Carbon Gaming close doors to UK players

Carbon Gaming has announced that it is no longer accepting any players from the UK. This decision has been taken on the back of the impending new Gambling Act, which is now due to come into effect in November. The delay is largely due to a number of challenges from the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) on the fairness and legallity of the new Act. There are still lots of options for UK players.

The complaint files includes the allegation that the new Act would be “illegitimate, disproportionate and discriminatory interference with the right to free movement of services guaranteed by Article 56 TFEU (Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union), and is irrational.”

Carbon Poker, the largest site on the Merge Poker Network, recently sent this communication out to their UK player base:

“Unfortunately, we will no longer be able to offer our services in your jurisdiction as of September 30th 2014,” read an email from Carbon posted by a user on the CardsChat forums. “Please log into your account and request a withdrawal for any remaining balance.”

This was followed by a notification to their affiliate base..

"Unfortunately, Carbon Gaming will no longer be able to offer services in the UK (United Kingdom). New players will not be able to join from this region and the regions of the UK have been removed from our Carbon Join page dropdowm menus. All Existing players from the UK will be able to withdrawal their current balance and log in until the end of this month, September 30th 2014. If you are from the UK and are currently using a Carbon Player account for Affiliate withdrawals you will need to change over to one of our Direct payment methods. To avoid any potential delays in receiving your next Commission Payment, please log into your ChipSplit account > Finances > Payment Instructions > Change Payment In Instructions. Be sure you have Updated your payment option to Skrill ($250 min) or Wire Payment ($2,500 Min). If you have any questioned at all, please contact us directly."

What does the new tax mean for poker sites?

The new law is seen by many as a way to raise taxes. The new laws will require all operators who take bets from residents within the UK to be fully licensed by government regulators. The laws are expected to take effect from December, which means that any operator choosing to remain in the UK will pay a 15 percent point of consumption tax on all revenue generated from bets made by UK players.