Regulation round-up 5 March 2013
The biggest regulatory news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (27 February to 5 March 2013).
New Jersey “to go live” by Nov 16
State Department of Gaming Enforcement works towards nine-month deadline.
The New Jersey online gaming market could be active as soon as mid-November despite no specific details of the regulation yet being finalised, according to the state Department of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).
In a bid to prepare for the passage of egaming law in the state “ approved by Governor Chris Christie earlier this week “ the DGE has been working on draft regulation since December 2011 when the US Department of Justice clarified that the 1961 Wire Act only applied to sports betting.
Referring to the 16 November deadline a spokesperson for the DGE said: “That is the goal and the division is confident it will meet the deadline.”
With the legislation stating that an official start date must be set between 90 and 270 days, the DGE is now working to a deadline of 16 November for the first egaming site to go live.
888 is next on Nevada GCB agenda
Gibraltar-licensed gaming operator 888 will have its application to become an online poker supplier in Nevada heard by the state’s Gaming Control Board (GCB) this week.
The company has been in line for the hearing since applying for a licence last year, having entered into an agreement with Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE) to provide the operator with poker software in the state. CIE has already received its operator licence and has been awaiting 888’s.
Meanwhile, Vegas hotel-casino Treasure Island will also have its application to become an online poker operator in the Silver State at the GCB meeting starting tomorrow, with eGR exclusively revealing today that 888 has signed a deal to be the casino’s poker software supplier.
Seven days in regulation:
Iowa online gambling bill approved in Senate
A bill which would make online poker legal in the state of Iowa has been approved by a Senate subcommittee and now heads to the Senate for debate.
The proposed law, sponsored by Democrat Senator Jeff Danielson, would permit the 21 state-licensed casinos to operate poker sites but all other forms of online gambling banned.
SB 1068 was introduced in January to the State Government Committee, which had to approve the proposals before it could progress to a Senate vote.
Swiss online gambling association formed
Zurich-based consultancy Richterich & Partner has set up an independent association for egaming operators looking to have their say on the potential of a regulated Swiss egaming market.
While the first members of Online Gambling Association Switzerland (OGAS) have yet to be named, negotiations have taken place with a number of operators active in the country, whose federal council this month announced its intention to potentially open up online gambling under a consistent set of regulations.
Löwen Play awarded Schleswig-Holstein licence
German operator Löwen Play has become the latest company to be granted a licence in Schleswig-Holstein, having received approval to offer casino games and poker in the jurisdiction.
It becomes the 23rd operator to receive a licence for the verticals, following the authorisations granted to Unibet and Playtech JV partner Merkur-Win last month.
South Point, Monarch & ACEP granted testing extensions
The Nevada Gaming Commission has allowed South Point Poker, Monarch Interactive and American Casino & Entertainment Properties (ACEP) Interactive an extra six months to have their online poker software approved by testing labs.
The three operators now have until the end of August to launch their online poker products, while South Point Poker was also granted a licence to distribute its online gaming system to other licensees.