PokerStars officially withdrew from the Norwegian market on Thursday for “commercial reasons.” [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Many online poker fans in Norway are now looking for a new platform. Flutter Entertainment-owned PokerStars is no longer accepting players from the country, and closed its Norwegian operations on Thursday after being in the market for more than two decades. The operator cited “commercial reasons” as the reason for the exit.
Users in Norway will still be able to access their accounts for some time, allowing them to withdraw any funds they may have.
Several online gambling operators have also previously decided to exit the Norwegian market, including the bet365, Betsson and Kindred brands. The legal framework for online gambling in the country is the reason operators are leaving in droves.
The Norwegian Gambling Authority announced in September that any unlicensed platforms still operating in the country would be subject to significant financial penalties. Norsk Rikstoto and Norsk Tipping currently have a monopoly on the country’s licensed gambling scene.
Parliament has given the regulatory body additional powers to help enforce the crackdown
The Norwegian Parliament has given the regulator additional powers to help enforce the crackdown, including blocking the IP addresses of these sites and Norwegian financial institutions not processing payments.
