partypoker quits several Asian countries: where to roll?

Author: Vargoso Published: 15.08.19

It's not a secret that the Asian poker market is perhaps the most complex one today. Almost all countries can be called a "gray area" as the regulations are not very clear, or gaming is forbidden in countries like China. Last week, partypoker decided to leave some Asian countries and players are confused about where to continue playing.

partypoker quits several Asian countries: where to roll?

partypoker left the Asian market

partypoker was one of the best options for Asian players to play online. Despite the complex legal situation, the site was still operating in some countries where giants like PokerStars left a few years ago. But everything changed last week when players reported via Twitter and forums that they received a short but concrete email from partypoker:

"From Monday 12th August we will be closing our doors."

No further explanations were given, and the only response was via Twitter, where a representative said the decision was due to a "recent review in a small number of countries."

The affected countries are (those confirmed by the players, since partypoker has not released an official statement):

South Korea
Japan
Malaysia
Indonesia
Vietnam
Serbia (although some players commented that Serbia was removed from the list)

It's clear that the decision to close its doors was due to unclear regulations, and probably related to the launching in some US states since the DOJ requires to cut the relationship with gray markets (in fact, a few months ago PokerStars asked us to remove sites offering services in the USA). Also, it's in line with the partypoker roadmap to focus on its software and improve the poker ecology instead of fighting with local authorities for offering games.

There is no doubt that partypoker will pay all players their balance (the email sent states that any pending bonuses or unused tickets will become cash), but the big question is: where can Asian continue playing in 2019?

Where to roll in Asian countries?

Now there is a growing interest in online poker in Asian countries like those in which partypoker decided to close its doors (here we exclude China, as the Asian giant is an entirely different history). Even without the market giants (partypoker, PokerStars), reliable poker networks like GG operates in Asia, plus some alternative (and even local sites like IDN) are widely promoted; therefore, there are plenty of online poker rooms where Asian players can join in 2019.

Round-table service for Asian poker players

If you are affected by partypoker's decision to leave your country, the Worldpokerdeals team will assist you in choosing the right room to continue playing. Our fine selection for Asian players takes care of all particular needs:

Deposit and withdrawal methods;
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All stakes and formats (NLH, PLO, Short Deck, 5 Card Omaha, MTT, etc.);
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To request your round-table service, please contact our manager, Alexey (Skype, Telegram).