- Reno-based Siena is working with Nevada-based startup Z4 Poker, which is developing in-house its “HD Poker” product.
- The company believes there is still room for a new operator to compete alongside the incumbant WSOP.com and Ultimate Poker, hinting at significant innovations in its upcoming software client.
- Free-play launch aimed for Q1 2014, with real money soon after—following regulatory approval.
Reno hotel and casino Siena announced Monday that it plans to offer a real-money poker product in Nevada, which could launch in the first half of 2014.
The announcement comes after the casino received its interactive gaming license from the Nevada Gaming Control Board last week.
The casino is working with Nevada-based startup Z4 Poker, which is developing its “HD Poker” product in-house.
The software company received a 6-month extension from the Board earlier this month to complete its real-money online poker plans.
“We’re extremely excited for the opportunity to compete in this new market. Our belief is that players will prefer excellent software and gameplay to expensive ad campaigns,” said Eric Colvin, CTO at Z4.
The company believes there is still room for a new operator to compete alongside the incumbant WSOP.com and Ultimate Poker, hinting at significant innovations in its upcoming software client. The cross-platform software will work on Windows, Mac, Tablet and Mobile—even Facebook.
“The technology in the online poker industry has hardly moved in over a decade, especially relative to the video game industry. While all the buzz is around the future convergence of social and real money iGaming, we are living it today. We plan on launching something completely innovative that hopefully will be greeted with a sigh of relief by the community – something that will be disruptive to the existing technology. Open beta is just around the corner,” touts Colvin.
Though no firm dates are set, the company is eyeing a Q1 2014 launch for play-money, and a real-money launch “a few months later”—following approval from the Nevada regulators.
