Pokerstars back on Portugal

I

ilostmysoul

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2 years ago online betting became illegal in portugal. The idea was to make all the betting websites legal, so that they would pay taxes. It wasn't a bad idea at all, but nobody expected it to last so long. Now we also have a legal middle man that confirms the randomization algorithms and hears players' complains.

After 2 years, we finally got the official notice that pokerstars had just received its licence to operate in Portugal today (here is the official document, it's in Portuguese tho: http://www.srij.turismodeportugal.p...ça 005-Reel Europe Limited-Pokerstars-JFA.pdf.

The bad news is that you most likely will not be seeing Portuguese players on the tables again. The reason is that the license is limited to national territory. I've been talking a few people and nobody knows for sure what that means, whether PS will eventually allow us to play with other countries or not.

So everyone is still a bit scared. The official pokerstars.pt website is still shut down for us, and redirects us to pokerstars.net where we can play for free money. However pokerstars has sent thousands of emails to portuguese players welcoming them back to the tables with the promise that VIP status would be the same as pre-blackout (I did not get one :( I feel left out).

I do think it is extremely unlikely things will change. PKR, 888, Everest, and partypoker, Titan, etc. are not going to apply for the license. Most likely PokerStars will be the only one, and it's unlikely they will ever allow us to play with foreigners. Portuguese players are scared because everyone is predicting that there will be only 1-2 cash game tables, no big MTTs, and SNGs will be open for a very long while awaiting registrations.

Oh well. Better than nothing.

EDIT: I've just been told that PokerStars did apply for an international pool, but we will have a 3 months delay before we know the result.
 
CriesuaID

CriesuaID

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I think it is unlikely that Portuguese players can not play against players from other countries. In any case, the desperation of governments for money is helping to secure the acceptance of Poker in more and more countries.
 
mar_dragan

mar_dragan

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Good luck for all Portughal players!
 
Abramo Della Luce

Abramo Della Luce

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I think it's a great first step, let's hope follow with the international players pool. I honestly don't know why they wouldn't allow that. What is the reason for a ring fenced system? Are they scared the money will go to another country?
Please enlighten me.
 
MsNutHand

MsNutHand

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It is good to know that pokerstars made the first and important step to return to Portugal and I hope that very soon they will provide full access to all MTTs and SNGs as it was in the past!
I am considering to move from brasil to Portugal next year as I have Portuguese citzenship and I am waiting that my husband get his soon too.
Taking advantage I would like to know if PartyPoker and 888 works normally in Portugal because recently I found some few players from Portugal playing sometimes at the major MTTs at PartyPoker where I play more than at Pokerstars. And my husband who plays at 888 (as I do not play at 888) told me that he never saw any Portuguese player at 888 in the last 2 years?

And finally how it will work the taxation at PS, PartyPoker and eventually at 888 after the new regulations over online poker in Portugal? In live tournaments in Portugal (by the way they are allowed?) how much is the usual tax?

Please feel free if you prefer to send me a private message about this issue of taxations for online and live MTTs in Portugal, ok?
 
MarceloMC

MarceloMC

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Hi IlostMySoul,

I would like to know about the progress with the return of the international poker rooms to Portugal for real money?

PS, PartyPoker and 888 (real Money against players around the World) are already available again for players in Portugal?
There is any taxation in the online Poker? And the players use the same platform (XXX.com) in the main poker rooms of all the other players around the world or there is any specific and diferente platform for the players in Portugal in those international poker rooms?

2 years ago online betting became illegal in Portugal. The idea was to make all the betting websites legal, so that they would pay taxes. It wasn't a bad idea at all, but nobody expected it to last so long. Now we also have a legal middle man that confirms the randomization algorithms and hears players' complains.

After 2 years, we finally got the official notice that PokerStars had just received its licence to operate in Portugal today (here is the official document, it's in Portuguese tho: http://www.srij.turismodeportugal.p...ça 005-Reel Europe Limited-Pokerstars-JFA.pdf.

The bad news is that you most likely will not be seeing Portuguese players on the tables again. The reason is that the license is limited to national territory. I've been talking a few people and nobody knows for sure what that means, whether PS will eventually allow us to play with other countries or not.

So everyone is still a bit scared. The official pokerstars.pt website is still shut down for us, and redirects us to pokerstars.net where we can play for free money. However pokerstars has sent thousands of emails to portuguese players welcoming them back to the tables with the promise that VIP status would be the same as pre-blackout (I did not get one :( I feel left out).

I do think it is extremely unlikely things will change. PKR, 888, Everest, and PartyPoker, Titan, etc. are not going to apply for the license. Most likely PokerStars will be the only one, and it's unlikely they will ever allow us to play with foreigners. Portuguese players are scared because everyone is predicting that there will be only 1-2 cash game tables, no big MTTs, and SNGs will be open for a very long while awaiting registrations.

Oh well. Better than nothing.

EDIT: I've just been told that PokerStars did apply for an international pool, but we will have a 3 months delay before we know the result.
 
M

mauroc711

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It would be very good that Portugal be open again to the world ecosystem, not only by Portuguese players, but also because it would make it more feasible for many Spanish players to play in the .com
 
vic88888

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The average Portuguese wage a month is about 700 CAD (550 USD). I am sure many are content by just getting by and perhaps cannot afford to play. I think the unemployment rate is high, to boot.
 
C

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Such a shame that all these governments decided to interfere.

Great international communities were created by the mutual interest in a game with global reach.
 
Xcoder

Xcoder

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I don't make alot of money but what I put on the table will not hurt me if I lose. My poker bankroll is separate. I play for fun, playchips are always there but playing with a few bucks makes it more interesting.
 
M

Mobcasinos

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It is still a good news after all. Pokerstar being allowed to operate online poker is a small step to get back to the market. It might take some time before they can play with other foreigners but for now enjoy what ever is available.
 
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