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.

With interstate poker legalised in Nevada earlier this month, operators would now need to ensure their sites can cope with more players than originally expected last year. Nevada’s population is only 2.8 million, but newly-regulated New Jersey‘s is 8.9 million, and an interstate compact between the two states would make online poker far more lucrative for operators.

Before going live, operator’s gaming systems must be approved by one of the Gaming Control Board’s appointed independent testing labs, Gaming Laboratories International and BMM International. At this month’s GCB meeting, officials representing ACEP, South Point and Monarch told the board they were at different stages of the testing process.

According to Nevada’s gaming laws, operators have six months to begin hosting their online poker product after receiving their licence. ACEP was awarded one in September last year, while Monarch and South Point became the first licensees in August, and with neither of the three operators ready to go live, the deadline extension is essential. ACEP’s freeplay poker site went live this month.