The rapid growth and evolution of poker world-wide, caught many if not most off the worlds countries by surprise.
This created a grey legal area in which the online poker operators offered their services for years.
Recently however, many countries started a regulation process for the poker markets. Let’s take a closer look at the recent changes in the field of poker regulation.
Poker Regulation News for Russia
Currently no form of online gambling is legal in Russia. But, that has not affected the wide variety of international poker providers. The world’s biggest online gaming companies continue to offer their services to Russia’s 144 million residents.
The situation might soon get a bit more complex for the companies and players. Recently a new Finance Bill that was introduced to the Russian Finance Ministry. If passed, the new bill would prohibit banks from processing any online gaming transactions.
Although these news sound almost apocalyptical, the fact is that Russia is lately looking into generating more tax revenue out of poker instead of banning it.
Poker Regulation News for United States
Although many states have embarked on a path to regulating online poker, 2016 ended without changes in Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan.
However, 2017 could be the year that online poker expands to these crucial states and kick-starts nationwide changes on the online poker market.
There are many notable names lobbying for and against online poker and online gambling in general.
Hopefully the above mentioned states will continue to work on the online poker regulation and achieve success as soon as possible.
Poker Regulation News for Australia
The online poker community in Australia was hit hard by the changes their government recently made in the field of online gambling.
In November, Australian Minister for Human Services announced the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 (IGA Bill 2016). This piece of legislation is intended to bring changes to the country’s existing online gaming laws.
If the government approves this amendment, online casino games as well as online poker will become illegal.
Only days after the amendment was announced, the Australian Online Poker Alliance was created. It’s is goal to stop the proposed changes, and the results of their efforts are already showing.
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