PokerStars applied for a license from the Lotteries & Gaming Authority in Malta and the license application was approved last week by the LGA in Malta. The reason PokerStars applied for the license was so that they could open PokerStars.eu. There are multiple reasons why PokerStars wanted to launch the new poker room that we’ll explain below.
Why Did PokerStars Launch PokerStars.eu?
- One of the reasons PokerStars opened PokerStars.eu with a license from Malta is so that players in Europe don’t have to worry about paying taxes on winnings. Poker players in some European countries need to pay taxes on winnings from poker sites that are licensed outside of the European Union.
- Eventually PokerStars also wants to operate a single poker room in Europe without segregated player pools. A single EU poker room is far from happening, but in the future segregated player pools may open up to the rest of the EU.
Who Can Play on PokerStars.eu?
PokerStars.eu is only available to poker players in Finland and Sweden right now. Finnish and Swedish poker players currently need to pay taxes on winnings at PokerStars.com because the site is licensed by the Isle of Man. PokerStars have said that they plan on allowing other EU countries to play on PokerStars.eu in the future. The player pool isn’t segregated on PokerStars.eu, so players will still be able to play the same great games that they could play on PokerStars.com.
The software and everything else is exactly the same. The only difference is that the new domain is PokerStars.eu and there is also a new logo in the lobby with PokerStars.eu instead of PokerStars.com. Finnish and Swedish players will be able to upgrade to the new software when they try signing into their accounts at PokerStars. Once you upgrade to the new platform your balance, FPP’s and everything else will be migrated to the new poker room instantly.
PokerStars has done a great job becoming regulated in markets throughout Europe. PokerStars already operates segregated poker rooms in Italy and France plus Spain is supposed to open later this year. PokerStars also operates licensed poker rooms in Belgium, Estonia and Denmark although these poker rooms are connected to the PokerStars.com player pool. Regulation in the online poker industry is happening rapidly around the world and PokerStars is always at the forefront of the emerging markets.
Players on the PokerStars.eu room will still be able to participate in the VIP program. If you live in Sweden or Finland and don’t have an account yet at PokerStars now is the perfect time to sign-up. PokerStars is comparable to the rest of the online poker networks licensed in the EU now and poker players in Europe no longer need to worry about paying taxed on their winnings. You will still be able to get pokerstars rakeback on this new site.
