PokerStars claims victory in long-running legal battle with Codere
Spanish operator also claims vindication but ordered to pay legal costs by Spanish Supreme Court
PokerStars has claimed victory in a long-running legal battle with Spanish operator Codere following a Spanish Supreme Court ruling late last week.
The dispute dated back to 2011 when Codere filed a lawsuit against PokerStars, claiming it was offering poker without a licence.
PokerStars had applied for a licence at the time which it was later awarded in 2012.
A Madrid court sided with Codere in 2012, agreeing that PokerStars was operating illegally, but a Barcelona court later ruled in favour of PokerStars, arguing the operator had applied for the licence at the time and was not at fault for the length of time taken to award it.
The case was referred to the Supreme Court, which admitted that PokerStars lacked the necessary licence, but added that operating while awaiting licensure was “widespread and fully tolerated by the administrative authorities in the field of gambling.”
Codere was subsequently awarded no damages and ordered to pay the legal costs.
“We are pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision, which ruled in PokerStars’ favour, ordering Codere to pay legal costs as part of the ruling,” said PokerStars VP of communications Eric Hollreiser.
“All material and economic petitions levelled by Codere have been dismissed, and the Supreme Court has clearly stated that www.pokerstars.es did not breach any laws and that it complies with all legal regulations.”
Codere also issued a statement claiming the court had ruled in its favour, pointing out that PokerStars had been described as not legal at the time of the original lawsuit.