PokerStars Set to Return to Switzerland via Casino777 Brand

Online poker operator PokerStars is returning to Switzerland after an exclusive distribution deal agreed with an online casino brand, starting from July 1, 2021.

Land-Based Gaming Partner

PokerStars is re-launching operations, having partnered with Casino777, the online casino brand of land-based casino operator Casino Davos, to return to the country which the famous poker brand had to leave on July 1, 2019, after the transition 6-month period of new gambling legislation effective January 1, 2019, expired.

By that time, PokerStars failed to meet the requirements of the Federal Act on Money Games to enter into a partnership with a local brick-and-mortar gambling establishment after the law limited online casino licenses to land-based casino operators only.

Jointly operated by Stadtcasino Baden Group and Belgium’s Ardent Group, Casino Davos appointed a new Casino777 chief gaming officer in February, Robert Kocher, to oversee operations of the online gaming brand.

Speaking about the PokerStars deal, online gaming industry veteran Kocher outlined the integration with the online poker brand has been going around the clock for months, seeking to “go live as quickly as possible” without ignoring that “all provisions of Swiss legislation must be complied with”, especially those related to player protection and money laundering.

Access to the Global Player Pool

PokerStars offering in Switzerland will initially be available to online players on a dedicated Swiss homepage via desktop and devices running on Android, while owners of devices running on iOS will have to wait a little longer as the operator said the planned launch will happen soon.

Players willing to participate in PokerStars’ global tournaments will have to open an account with Casino777 as the online casino brand partner will be handling transactions and support in compliance with Swiss consumer protection rules. Accounts at the online casino brand can be opened via either the brand’s Casino777.ch page or PokerStars.ch one.

The online casino brand of Casino Davos was launched in September 2019, supplied with technology from a subsidiary of Ardent Group, Gaming1, to power operations. In 2019, Casino777 contributed to CHF1.3 million ($1.33 million) of gross gaming revenue from a total of CHF7.6 million ($7.8 million) generated by Stadtcasino Baden Group.

In April, PokerStars complemented an existing collaboration with Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr to make the prominent player and long-time poker fan its cultural ambassador to help the brand in projects related to art, design, music, and others.