Bodog Europe, part of the Bodog Poker Network, is informing their Spanish customers that they can no longer use their real money services, pokerfuse can reveal. Accounts will be closed by the end of the month and players are asked to request withdrawals for outstanding account balances.
The decision comes ahead of new online poker regulation in Spain expected to come into effect in the next three months. When the first licenses are issued—and the Spanish regulator has until the end of June to get the ball rolling—all unlicensed operators will be required to stop serving customers in Spain.
Over fifty operators are thought to have applied, including PokerStars, PartyPoker, iPoker, Ongame, GTECH G2—even Groupe Bernarde Tapie. But apparently Bodog Europe is not on the applicant list; certain Microgaming rooms made a similar move in February, informing Spanish customers they would no longer be able to play on the network.
It is not just Spanish residents that are no longer welcome on Bodog sites. Bovada, Bodog’s US-facing brand, blocked players from Maryland last week, and—although we could not get official confirmation—apparently the site is also not accepting new player sign-ups from New York, Utah or Washington State.
