iPoker Rooms Withdraw From Germany Due to New Rollover Tax

The recent implementation of a controversial new rollover tax in Germany has led to more iPoker sites cutting their services for German customers. The iPoker Network’s Betsson site, partypoker, as well as GGPoker are the latest to announce changes to their German operations, as a result of the new 5.3% levy which operators and industry bodies have declared as “prohibitive“.

Betsson, one of iPoker Network’s biggest sites catering to German players, is terminating all of its online poker services in the country. Apart from the new rollover tax, Betsson also cited changes to affiliate payments as one other factor prompting it to decide to leave the German market altogether.

Notifying its German customers of the major changes, Betsson stated that it would close its poker product in Germany as a result of the new rollover tax. It added that it would “review the viability of offering poker” in the German market in the future.

As to the site’s affiliate program, Betsson is temporarily suspending all payments while it examines their legality. The operator also said that it’s considering acquiring a land-based casino license in the country.

Changes at partypoker

Over at partypoker, German players will still have access to all Sit-and-Go games and stakes, but the site is imposing an additional surcharge of 5.3% to the entry fee. partypoker is also scrapping its higher-stakes cash games, meaning German customers can no longer play games with stakes from $2/$5 and higher. The operator has yet to introduce changes to its multi-table tournaments.

In an email to its German players, partypoker stated that the changes are the “most player-friendly” adjustment that they could make as a result of the new tax laws. The operator added that while Germany’s online gaming market is bound to change permanently due to the new tax regime, it will try to meet its obligations as a leading online poker provider in the country.

Changes at GGPoker

On June 30, GGPoker sent an email to its German customers notifying them of the following changes:

The site is terminating all of its VIP cash games, including All-in or Fold featured tables. German players will also now be prohibited from playing High Roller tournaments, with satellites for those evens also scrapped. GGPoker is also temporarily suspending its “Move Table” function.

The operator is expected to introduce more changes to its German operations and will release further announcements in mid-July.