UK bookmaker William Hill has exited the Czech Republic just days ahead of the market’s new online gambling regime taking effect.

This month, William Hill customers and affiliates in the Czech Republic began receiving emails informing them that “none of William Hill’s products will be available” in the country following “recent regulatory developments.”

Those developments include the country’s new Gambling Act, which was approved this summer and officially takes effect on January 1, 2017. The new regime requires operators based in other European Union markets to obtain a new Czech online license if they wish to continue serving local punters.

Hills clearly has hopes of obtaining a local license, as its email to Czech affiliates expressed confidence that the parties would “have the opportunity to work together in the future.” In the meantime, Hills’ players have been asked to withdraw their account balances and affiliates are required to remove all marketing materials that promote Hills’ products to Czech bettors.