GGPoker withdraws from Czech market

Garance Limouzy August 19, 2024

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GGPoker withdraws from Czech market

Poker enthusiasts in the Czech Republic have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of GGPoker, which was to open in the country following its licensing in early 2023. However, this much-anticipated launch may be indefinitely postponed.

At the start of 2023, GGPoker obtained an online poker licence in the Czech Republic, thanks to a partnership with King’s Casino. According to the Czech Ministry of Finance, GGPoker has either lost or surrendered its licence. The Ministry’s list of licensed gambling operators, which is updated bi-monthly, included GGPoker.cz in June but no longer features it in the August edition.

Reasons for the withdrawal

The exact reasons for GGPoker’s loss of its Czech licence remain speculative. However, the timing suggests that legislative changes introduced earlier this year could be a key factor. These regulations included an increased gambling tax. they also require online poker rooms to implement tight measures, such as self-exclusion options and a “panic button” that allows players to block themselves from all licensed poker rooms within the country. These requirements are not only challenging to integrate but also come with significant costs.

GGPoker’s representative in the Czech Republic, King’s Slots, has the option to reapply for a licence once they have met the new legal standards. There is also a possibility that GGPoker might adapt its software for other markets and use this modified version to re-enter the Czech market.

The future of GGPoker

For now, Czech poker players will have to carry on using the two online poker rooms currently available to them. Despite the setbacks, GGPoker has confirmed its exit from the Czech market but hinted at potential future plans. A company spokesperson mentioned that they are reassessing their strategy for this jurisdiction and are considering reapplying for a licence when conditions are favourable.