- Skrill is pulling out of the Canadian gambling market.
- In an email to customers it has announced the end of operations on January 2.
- Canadian players are rapidly running out of financial transaction options.
Ben “Sauce123” Sulsky has posted an email he received from Skrill telling him that they would no longer permit gambling transactions as of January 2, 2014. Transactions from merchants will end January 31.
The email explained : “Skrill will be notifying active gamblers next week and will also communicate this to its broader Canadian customer base.”
In August this year, CVC Capital Partners bought a 75% stake in Skrill (formerly Moneybookers). Since then, the company has been approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for online gambling transactions within the state.
There is no Canadian law which bans online gambling transactions, although as NAFTA members, Canadian banks generally include no-gambling clauses in their terms and conditions, in order to avoid potential legal problems with their US subsidiaries which are subject to the UIGEA.
Poker players in Canada, especially those who are refugees from the USA, are facing a dwindling set of options for cash outs and deposits. Many banks refuse gambling transactions, as does Visa and NETELLER.
A spokesperson from Skrill was not immediately available to confirm the report.
