Now that real-money online poker is on the verge of launching in Nevada, the state’s gaming board has given preliminary approval for the first affiliate site.
Jon Friedberg, President and CEO of PokerTrip Enterprises, Inc., known more commonly as All Vegas Poker and The Poker Atlas, explained to the Nevada Gaming Control Board on Thursday how his company would help bring poker players to the market.
Before getting the nod to become the state’s first affiliate site, Friedberg said PokerTrip would provide poker players “the best information” about sites and “facilitate online dialogue.”
In return, his company would receive compensation for helping drive traffic. He said PokerTrip has “dialogue” and “relationships” with some of Nevada’s online poker applications “but no formal agreements.”
No one is yet sure what benefits the players might receive by signing up through an affiliate. Friedberg suggested that players could receive anything from deposit bonuses to casino comps.
“It might be a different world because everything is now regulated,” he said.
Friedberg must appear before the Nevada Gaming Commission September 20 for final approval.
“The whole premise of what we do is to provide our members with accurate information, a friendly community of fellow poker enthusiasts, and opportunities for rewards at casinos,” Friedberg said. “We want to find where the most value is for our members.”
At least 12 companies have applied for an online poker operator license in Nevada.
On Thursday, the board also unanimously gave preliminary approval to ACEP Interactive, which owns Stratosphere, Aquarius and Arizona Charlie’s, and WMS Gaming, an Illinois-based slot machine company, to operate in the state. WMS inked a strategic partnership with 888 last month. The agreement will allow WMS to offer US land-based casino operators a “world-class online poker solution.”
Also last month, South Point became the first casino licensed to operate real-money online poker in Nevada.
