When Amaya Gaming bought PokerStars last year, the online giant was expected to be licensed in New Jersey quickly.
It wasn’t. PokerStars is still working its way through the licensing process.
However, State Senator Raymond Lesniak—one of the state’s key figures in gambling legislation—has fueled rumors again that the licensing is close, saying on Twitter that he expects PokerStars to be licensed by March.
However, Lesniak has said that before. Back in September he also said the licensing would come soon and so far, well, nothing.
But Lesniak said things have changed. Asked what those changes were, Lesniak tweeted that Adelson’s play to ban eGaming in Congress is dead and Poker Stars new ownership too formidable to deny.
Why Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Adelson’s push to ban online gambling would affect the licensing is unclear. New Jersey issued a license for Pala Interactive last month to start online gambling despite Adelson’s campaign.
However, Amaya’s acquisition of the Rational Group was said to alleviate the state’s concerns about the PokerStars parent company’s former ownership.
