Betfair-OnGame: Player’s bankrolls and Licensing jurisdictions

The abrupt changes to some sectors of  the online poker industry due to US government activities seizing domains, has not only affected US players it has also effected non US players. With some player’s bankrolls having been frozen, players are looking at poker sites that can offer a place to play and, perhaps more importantly, look after a player’s bankroll.

Sites licensed in Europe have stricter licensing and financial controls. Depending on where exactly a poker sites gaming license is granted these rules will vary slightly. For example gaming licenses from Alderney require that companies must have enough cash to always exceed player total funds. Malta requires companies to legally keep players funds separate from the operating funds and they are legally liable for any differences in players funds should the worst happen to the company.

Betfair Poker is one of the most trusted sites in the online gambling business and your bankroll money has to be virtually guaranteed safe with them. Betfair has been floated on the London Stock Exchange and they actually have no debt as an operating company.

Betfair have also launched their Customer Commitment and it goes far and above most companies attempts at these types of things. They have guaranteed or committed to lots of Customer Care standards and these include Customer Protection, Integrity, Customer Service, Communication and Product & Technology.

“Your money and the Company's money is separated so your funds are safeguarded:

Betfair holds customers' money in separately managed bank accounts which means your funds are safeguarded independently of our corporate funds under the terms of a Trust Deed.”

*Betfair Customer Commitment

Although sites in Europe should have better protection for players funds this does not mean they are 100% safe as many things can still happen to a business or the network they are operating on. Also this does not mean that sites that are not licensed in Europe are no go zones. As long as they are a large well established company then your bankroll should be safer with them.

Players choosing where they want to play should perhaps also consider where a company is licensed along with its player liquidity and rakeback offers.