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According to an official press release issued by PokerStars [3], they acquired a Malta license, and will soon launch their .eu site aimed at licensed European markets. The license was granted by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta, which will enable PokerStars to enter presently closed markets in the future.
[4]"I am pleased to announce PokerStars has secured a Malta Remote Gaming License and very soon we will launch www.PokerStars.eu [5], giving us the ability to provide enhanced service to players in several European markets. You'll be hearing more about our plans for Pokerstars.eu in the coming days, but its origins lie in our dedication to serving players' needs" - stated Eric Hollreiser, PokerStars' Head of Corporate Communications on PokerStarsBlog.com.
This doesn't mean that PokerStars.eu will start a new pool, players can access the whole .com pool through the .eu client. Mostly European players living in countries which already legalized online poker such as Spain, Italy and France will benefit from this license. Also, players in Finland and Spain will be able to handle their poker income tax-free, as online gambling is tax-free there, but currently players playing at PokerStars.com are paying high taxes after their winnings.
"We hope and expect the future will bring more certainty and more uniformity that will help players and companies alike. That's why we were happy to see the recent reports that France, Italy and Spain are discussing regulatory cooperation and shared liquidity" - adds Hollreiser.
PokerStars is currently licensed in Italy, France, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia and Malta.