PokerStars receive Portuguese gaming license

PokerStars is back in Portugal 18 months after self excluding from the Portuguese market.

Amaya Inc have been awarded an online gaming license by Portugal’s Serviços de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (SRIJ) - Portugal's new local regulatory and licensing regime. 

They are the first operator to receive a license for poker and the fifth overall gaming company to get one.

In a statement to affiliates PokerStars confirmed:

PokerStars will maintain the very highest levels of player fund protection by segregating Portuguese player funds under trust agreements, as is done in all markets where PokerStars offers its products. In the meantime, while Portugal remains a closed liquidity poker market, PokerStars intends to actively work with applicable Portuguese authorities to help further develop and enhance the Portuguese regulatory framework for poker, including, without limitation, through the promotion of shared liquidity.

From today PokerStars will be available to Portuguese players, offering poker and casino games. Texas Hold'em and Omaha cash games will be available, as will multi table tournaments, however Spin & Go will not be available right away. Slots and BetStars are also not available yet in Portugal. 

PokerStars.PT will be available to players on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. 

Existing players will be asked to migrate their accounts to the PT client, moving over their current StarsCoins and VIP Status.

PokerStars.PT will be on a segregated network but Portuguese regulators are considering shared liquidity in the future. Either joining the dot-com player pool or possibly sharing liquidity with other segregated networks like France, Spain and Italy.