{"id":1130,"date":"2016-07-07T15:21:55","date_gmt":"2016-07-07T15:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.top10pokersites.net\/?p=1130"},"modified":"2016-07-07T15:21:55","modified_gmt":"2016-07-07T15:21:55","slug":"portugals-online-poker-regulation-stalled-till-november","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.top10pokersites.net\/news\/portugals-online-poker-regulation-stalled-till-november","title":{"rendered":"Portugal\u2019s Online Poker Regulation Stalled Till November"},"content":{"rendered":"
Portugal<\/a> which opened up its gambling market last year will be able to see the entry of foreign online poker operators only after November 2016 as the legislation for online poker regulation is still under review.<\/p>\n Betclic.PT<\/strong>, was the first gaming operator to receive an online gaming license. The site received a sports wagering license and began operations in May in time for the 2016 UEFA European Championship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Last week the country\u2019s gaming regulator, Regula\u00e7\u00e3o e Inspe\u00e7\u00e3o de Jogos (SRIJ)<\/a> announced that a second online betting license has been issued and confirmed that it had been allotted to Bet Entertainment Technologies Ltd. The company will operate on SBTech platform on the domain www.bet.pt<\/strong>. Other interested companies who could end up receiving licenses include land-based casino operator Solverde<\/strong> and lottery operator Santa Casa da Misericordia de Lisboa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Online poker licenses have however not been released due to issues surrounding approval for shared liquidity. The Head of Online Gambling for SRIJ, Manuela Bandeira<\/strong> had stated in December 2015 that there would be no shared liquidity for sites offering services to Portuguese residents. Banderia wanted Portugal to follow a similar regulation that was being practised in France, Italy, and Spain<\/strong>. However, SRIJ decided to change its position in April 2016 after a meeting with the Portuguese players association ANAon<\/a> and stated that shared player liquidity will be allowed but not for those holding business-to- business licenses which enable multiple operators to use the same platform.<\/p>\n A recent statement by ANAon<\/strong> has revealed that SRIJ is reviewing two proposals one of which would permit shared liquidity for online poker. After SRIJ approves one of the two proposals, the same will be sent to the European Commission for further approval. This would trigger the three-month time period needed for other European countries to comment, causing the implementation of the proposal to be stalled until November 2016 at the least.<\/p>\n