- The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is set to meet with Canadian firm Amaya Gaming Thursday to discuss re-opening PokerStars’ application to be a regulated igaming provider in the state.
- PokerStars applied for a license last year but the application was suspended due to the unresolved federal indictment against PokerStars’ founder Isai Scheinberg.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is set to meet with Canadian firm Amaya Gaming Thursday to discuss re-opening PokerStars’ application to be a regulated igaming provider in the state.
“We’ve had discussions with Amaya to reactivate the application, and we plan to begin discussions with them tomorrow,” Rebuck told the AP on Wednesday. “We’ll look at whatever they bring over.”
Currently Suspended
Amaya Gaming has entered into an agreement to acquire Rational Group, parent company of PokerStars and Full Tilt.
PokerStars applied for a license last year but the application was suspended due to the unresolved federal indictment against PokerStars’ founder Isai Scheinberg.
The company was given two years to demonstrate “significantly changed circumstances” as to the make-up of its board. As part of the Amaya acquisition, Isai Scheinberg and son Mark will fully divest their interests in the company.
“Encouraging Developments”
Soon after the acquisition announcement, the DGE issued a statement to pokerfuse indicating it was “encouraged by [the] development and the expanded opportunities it might provide for New Jersey’s Internet gaming industry.”
Amaya sees the New Jersey market as a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is licensed in the state and provides casino software to Caesars and bwin.party. Its Ongame poker platform is used on Betfair and is slated to be used on Golden Nugget when it launches its online poker room.
Expediting the entry of the PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker brands into the United States market is a crucial part of Amaya’s $5 billion acquisition—and New Jersey is by far its best shot at realizing this in the short term.
