Poll: Will liquidity pooling boost Europe’s online poker market?
French regulator ARJEL says liquidity sharing deal between France, Portugal, Italy and Spain could be agreed next month
Last week, France’s gambling regulator ARJEL announced it expected a long-awaited agreement to pool poker liquidity across four European nations to be signed as early as next month.
The deal currently includes France, Portugal, Italy and Spain, with operators expected to be able to apply for their software to be reviewed to ensure they are in line with the technical standards required by September.
European regulators have been discussing the idea of poker liquidity sharing as far back as 2012 and the deal could provide a timely boost to a vertical that is struggling to keep its head above water.
Amaya’s vice-president of communications Eric Hollreiser told EGR Intel recently: “Amaya is supportive of legislation that protects both the consumer and the vitality of the online gaming industry.
“Pooling of online poker liquidity is a positive step forward that all regulated operators should welcome.”
However, with online poker revenues either falling or stagnating across Europe, it could be argued that a liquidity sharing pact is too little too late.
According a recent report by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, poker revenues in Italy and Spain were both flat year-on-year in Q1 2017 at €43m and €15m respectively.
The French online poker market has also been on a downward trajectory for the last few years despite having recently reported a slight increase in quarterly revenues.
With that in mind, this week’s poll wants to know whether you believe shared liquidity will provide a major boost to the European poker market or does the vertical have deeper issues? Have your say below.