CoinPoker is often marketed as a “modern”, “decentralized”, or “crypto-first” poker and casino platform. However, behind this branding lies a fundamental issue that cannot be ignored: CoinPoker is not licensed in any country within the European Union.
This is not an opinion or a personal interpretation. It is a verifiable fact with serious legal consequences for both the platform and its users.
Gambling in the European Union Is Not a Grey Area
While gambling regulation differs between EU member states, one principle applies across the entire European Union:
If a gambling operator does not hold a valid license in a specific EU country, it is not legally allowed to offer gambling services to residents of that country.
CoinPoker does not hold a gambling license in Germany, Lithuania, France, Spain, or any other EU member state. Despite this, the platform:
- allows EU residents to register,
- accepts deposits from EU users,
- offers poker and casino games,
- operates without supervision from any European regulator.
This means CoinPoker is knowingly operating outside the European regulatory framework.
“Crypto” Does Not Mean “Above the Law”
A common argument used by crypto-based gambling platforms is that operating with cryptocurrency removes them from traditional legal jurisdictions. This argument is misleading and legally incorrect.
Under European law, what matters is not the currency being used, but:
- where the player is located,
- who the services are offered to,
- whether the operator actively accepts players from the EU.
If a platform accepts EU players, it must comply with EU and national gambling laws. CoinPoker does not.
No License Means No Valid Gambling Contract
One of the most important legal consequences of operating without a license is that the gambling contract itself may be considered invalid.
In practice, this means:
- the operator had no legal right to accept the player’s money,
- the player was denied access to a regulated and legally compliant service,
- funds were accepted without a lawful basis.
This legal reasoning is already being applied in European courts, particularly in Germany, where players are successfully reclaiming losses from unlicensed operators. This is no longer a theory. It is happening in real cases.
Why Does CoinPoker Still Accept EU Players?
The answer is straightforward: European regulation is inconvenient for their business model.
EU regulations require:
- identity verification (KYC),
- responsible gambling tools,
- self-exclusion mechanisms,
- anti-money laundering controls,
- tax compliance and reporting.
CoinPoker’s model relies on avoiding these obligations entirely. By staying outside the regulatory system, the platform can:
- accept unlimited deposits,
- allow anonymous gambling,
- ignore self-exclusion systems,
- operate without meaningful oversight.
However, this also means that its operations targeting EU players are fundamentally unlawful.
This Is Not a Local Issue. It Is a Systemic One
The CoinPoker case is not about a single country or a single player. It is about a platform that:
- holds no EU gambling licenses,
- actively targets the EU market,
- ignores legal obligations,
- shifts all legal and financial risk onto players.
This is a systemic issue, and one that will inevitably lead to regulatory and legal consequences across Europe.
