SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
PokerStars have received approval from the Bulgarian State Gambling Commission for an online gaming licence in Bulgaria. In the next few weeks, the world’s largest poker site will work towards finalising the technical requirements for starting operations under the license and serving the Bulgarian online poker market under the local licence.
According to the poker operator, the Bulgarian Gambling Commission’s decision to award PokerStars a licence underscores the company’s commitment to be among the first companies to enter regulated markets when licenses become available. Bulgarian regulations now permit residents to play online poker with licensed operators, but so far, no other online poker site has been given permission to operate in the country.
“Bulgaria is full of promise,” said Eric Hollreiser, the Head of Corporate Communications for PokerStars. “Poker is extremely popular in the country and recently we have seen some notable results from Bulgarian players including Dimitar Danchev, who won the 2013 PokerStars CaribbeanAdventure Main Event for $1,859,000. We are delighted with today’s news and we are looking forward to work with the Gambling Commission so that we can launch as soon as possible.”
In addition to this new licence in Bulgaria, PokerStars already holds licenses in France, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Belgium, Germany, Malta and the Isle of Man.
