Poll: Will PokerStars be awarded a licence in California?

Amaya Gaming’s US$4.9bn acquisition of the Rational Group has once again fired up the debate over PokerStars US online gambling ambitions and its potential to re-enter the US market.

The first target will be New Jersey where, in its decision to suspend PokerStars licence application for two years, the New Jersey regulator cited concerns over founder Isai Scheinberg and 13 senior members of the company.

But with Isai and Mark Scheinberg exiting as part of the deal it’s highly likely Amaya will be awarded a transactional waiver in the Garden State, where PokerStars has already partnered with Resorts Casino.

The big question, then, will become whether the deal has paved the way for PokerStars to enter the California market if and when it regulates internet poker.

The latest California internet poker Bill, backed by 13 of the state’s most influential tribes, has strict ‘bad actor’ provisions that appeared to be set out to bar PokerStars from entering the fray.

PokerStars and its tribal partner Morongo have said the Bill is anti-competitive and that the Tribes are fearful of PokerStars claiming the lion’s share of the market, and have set out to prevent the bill passing in its current form.

But will the proposed acquisition by Amaya change things and can PokerStars change public, and crucially regulatory and legislative, opinion under its new ownership structure?

In this week’s poll we want to know whether you think Amaya’s acquisition of the Rational Group will see PokerStars awarded an interactive poker licence in California, or whether the Tribes will be successful in ensuring it is locked out of the market even following the Amaya deal.

Have your say at the bottom right hand side of the page.