PartyPoker
temporarily suspended its Czech operations in February to allow for a new
licence application to be submitted, allowing it to operate in the country’s
newly-regulated market.
However, the company has now withdrawn the application, and gave the following
justification to its customers according to local poker site Poker-Arena:
"Our goal is to always offer our customers a reliable and safe gaming
experience and ensure that we offer our gaming products only if we are sure
that everything is in full compliance with the law.
"As already mentioned, we asked about the release of a few licenses that allow
you to use our services in the Czech Republic. However, the processing of these
requests has revealed that the recent changes in the laws in force in the Czech
Republic, along with their application in practice by the Czech authorities are
incompatible with the principles of the European Union, and should not
therefore be used," said the company.
The newly regulated Czech iGaming market has been the subject of heavy
criticism following a review which revealed that local authorities were failing
to adequately punish unlicensed igaming operators who were found to be
breaching regulations.
Licensed Igaming operators are required to pay a 35% tax on their gross gaming
revenue in the Czech Republic, which some believe diminishes its attractiveness
to foreign igaming operators.
PartyPoker have said that they may look to reapply for a licence once all
compliance issues have been addressed and that they intend to meet with Czech
authorities to discuss the matter further in the near future.
Source: GMB / Gambling Insider