According to reports in Reuters this week, Austrian firm Bwin has withdrawn its online gaming services from the Turkish market in the wake of the country's tough new gambling legislation.
The decision is expected to have a negative impact on Bwin, which makes six percent of its total gaming revenue from Turkish casino fans. A company spokesperson has confirmed that Bwin's gross revenue could be 15-20 million Euros down per year as a result of the firm's new policy.
However, Bwin stresses that the move is purely a temporary one, stating that its intentions are to purchase a gaming license from the Turkish authorities. Spokeswoman Karin Klein told media that the firm's lawyers are investigating options. Although vague about the timeframe, a company statement has reiterated the desire for a license, saying: “Although on one hand, the new law prohibits online games of chance, on the other it also provides for the possibility of acquiring a license at a later date."

In 2006, Bwin was forced to scrap its U.S poker site which had made 500 million in the first half of the year. U.S legislation has hit hundreds of online gambling companies hard, forcing the majority to pull out of the American gaming market.

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