If the application and licensing process is any indication, online poker may soon be as prevalent as live poker in Nevada, with two more Las Vegas casinos applying for licenses to operate online games in the Silver State.
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and Treasure Island are the most recent to have joined the growing list of applicants.
The Hard Rock application was submitted under BREF Interactive Gaming, LLC, a subsidiary of parent company Brookfield Real Estate Financial. The company is reportedly in negotiations with software providers to secure online poker software.
Switch Communications Group applied for a “hosting center” license, which is essentially a location separate from casinos that house computer networks.
Already 12 companies have been approved for online poker operator licenses in Nevada, with MGM Resorts International getting the nod as recently as last week.
While a handful of other companies have applied for licenses to do business in the online gaming industry, the operator license is a distinction in Nevada granted solely to brick and mortar companies.
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Last month, Boyd Gaming, Golden Nugget and Fertitta Interactive also were approved for operator licenses. Other companies already licensed are: WMS Gaming Inc., American Casino & Entertainment Properties, Shuffle Master, International Game Technology, South Point Poker, Monarch Interactive, Bally Technologies, Global Cash Access.
Should Hard Rock and Treasure Island be granted approval, that would bring the number of operator licenses to 14.
Still, there’s been no indication when the first real money site will launch. Initial expectations from South Point were squashed when the company postponed its debut, citing negotiations and delays in testing.
