Non-French residents will no longer be able to gamble on PokerStars.FR due to new restrictions.
The poker site informed their users about the changes through the following email:
“In an effort to adapt to a constantly changing environment, from February 13, 2017 a reorganisation will take place resulting in limiting service on PokerStars.FR to players resident in mainland France or its overseas territories.
Players based outside France continue to be welcome to play on PokerStars.COM, the world’s largest online poker site, or at other PokerStars licensed websites subject to local laws and regulations of the country in which they reside.
As always, we will keep our customers informed and, regardless of any future developments, playing funds will remain safe, secure and accessible for withdrawal. (…) The Cashier is now available for you to withdraw the funds in your real money account if you wish. If you have any unused T€ and/or Tournament Tickets in your account, they will automatically be converted into their equivalent cash value upon entering the Cashier from February 13 onwards.”
The “changing environment” may refer to a new French-Italian joint online poker market. Alessandro Aronica, the director of ADM, one of Italy’s three tax agencies talked about the proposal last year, saying that negotiations are ongoing and going well.
Meanwhile, Australia banned any online poker room based outside their country. But on the bright side, in the United States the New York State Senate is voting on a bill that would define poker as a "game of skill" thus making it legal to play it online for real money in the 4th most populous state of the country.
