PokerStars could be live in New Jersey within months
Operator could be licensed and up and running in the Garden State by autumn following sale to Amaya
PokerStars could be offering online casino and poker products in New Jersey as early as this autumn following the proposed sale to Amaya, eGR understands.
Parent company the Rational Group, which in December had its gaming licence application suspended for two years by the New Jersey regulator, is currently engaged in the licensing process in New Jersey with its US$.4.9m takeover by the Canadian supplier due to complete in September.
And sources in New Jersey have confirmed to eGR that should the deal go through the state regulators are expected to approve the licence application with a potential go-live date as soon as this autumn.
The Division of Gaming Enforcement’s decision to block the Rational Group’s application was primarily due to concerns over Stars’ founder Isai Scheinberg, who still has pending criminal charges against him following the Black Friday indictments in 2011.
However with PokerStars owners heading for the exit post-acquisition that barrier appears to have been removed, and sources said Rational’s software should have few issues passing through the regulator’s testing labs in the coming months.
The Isle of Man-based operator plans to offer poker as well as casino “ under the Full Tilt brand “ products in the state via the partnership with the Atlantic City casino Resorts it signed in June 2013.
Should it get up and running by autumn PokerStars will have succeeded in enterting the market less than a year after the first set of operators, including Caesars Interactive, bwin.party and 888, did so in November 2013.
While PokerStars declined to comment on timeframes, a spokesman said the firm “look[s] forward to continued dialogue with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement in conjunction with Amaya”.
Last week DGE Director David Rebuck said he was “encouraged” by Amaya’s acquisition of PokerStars, and the “opportunities it might provide for the state”.
The deal with Resorts was Rational Group’s second attempt at gaining a foothold in the New Jersey market. Its first move was to acquire the Atlantic Club casino for $15m, however the agreement fell through amid public disagreements concerning Rational’s licensure hopes. The Atlantic Club was declared bankrupt in November.