The world’s largest online poker site, PokerStars, took another step towards reintegration into the US last night after the owner of Resorts Hotel & Casino, AC, Morris Bailey suggest a deal was close to be finalized.
After months of speculation and anticipation, the man in charge of Resorts, PokerStars live casino partner in New Jersey, told members of the press last night that he is close to completing the licensing process.
“Resorts owner Morris Bailey says regulators r close 2 finishing PokerStars approval process, sez he expects 2 be pleased w/outcome #acpress,” read a tweet from Atlantic City report, Reuben Kramer.
Big Plans for PokerStars in New Jersey
Although the casino boss didn’t give a projected timeline for the deal, he did indicate that once the paperwork is complete and the site is up and running, Resorts would be celebrating the launch with a live poker room inside its casino complex.
“Bailey says Resorts will build big PokerStars poker room if PokerStars approved #acpress,” Kramer wrote.
Although those with a close eye on PokerStars’ international endeavors may feel like they’ve heard all this before, this is by far the most significant indication that the site will be live at some point in the coming months.
In fact, the latest update by Bailey is one that echoes the timeline projected by the head of Amaya Inc., the parent company of PokerStars, David Baazov.
“As it relates to New Jersey I would say that we feel that this is coming. We would expect to receive and launch in the next quarter,” read a statement from Baazov at the end of March.
As well as announcing the potential launch of PokerStars in New Jersey, Bailey was also holding court with media members to launch Resorts online platform. Dubbed ResortsCasino.com, the site will offer traditional casino games and slots for the time being, but once PokerStars obtains a license it’s expected the platform will also offer poker.
Future Possibilities for Resorts and PokerStars
Thanks to a software deal between Resorts and PokerStars, the former will be able to utilize the latter’s expertise to host regulated poker games for New Jersey residents.
However, before any of this can happen, PokerStars will need to come through the regulation process successfully and that’s certainly not a guarantee. In the past there has been talk of a political embargo on PokerStars entering the Garden State.
According to New Jersey Senator Ray Lesniak, one of the reasons PokerStars isn’t already active in the State is because of Governor Chris Christie. Although this is pure speculation, Lesniak has publically stated that Christie has been holding up the process as a way to curry favor with anti-online poker advocate and political mega donor, Sheldon Adelson.
Regardless of whether this is true or not, it now seems as though things are starting move in the right direction for PokerStars.
