Atlantic City’s Resorts Casino Hotel is seeking regulatory approval to launch both a PokerStars and Full Tilt online poker site in New Jersey.
The casino had previously announced a partnership with PokerStars, but that deal was put on hold when PokerStars failed to get regulatory approval in the state. PokerStars, however, has now been acquired by Amaya Gaming, a Canadian-based company already licensed in New Jersey.
Amaya has already begun the regulatory process to license PokerStars brands in New Jersey.
All online gambling sites must be partnered with an Atlantic City casino to operate in New Jersey. When PokerStars initially failed to get licensed, it wasn’t clear what that meant for its partnership with Resorts, but with Amaya’s move to takeover PokerStars, the casino quickly announced the deal was back on.
PokerStars license application was suspended—but not denied outright—by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for up to two years because of legal issues surrounding some PokerStars executives stemming from the 2011 shutdown of the site by the U.S. Department of Justice. Those executives—including PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg—are now stepping down as part of the sale.
Amaya has already begun discussions with the DGE and is expected to file a new licensing application. The company has already begun submitting documents for the process.
Division officials told the Associated Press that it will review Amaya’s proposed corporate structure for the acquisition, a list of executive and management personnel, and the technical aspects of the PokerStars platform to make sure it meets regulatory standards. DGE officials have said PokerStars could now be licensed in the state as early as the fall.
Resort’s owner Morris Bailey welcomed Amaya’s $4.9 billion acquisition of Rational Group—PokerStars owner—and said he expects the licensing of the brand to now move forward.
“PokerStars is the leading world-wide brand in online gaming and we are looking forward to our future with them in New Jersey,” Bailey added.
Resorts has also announced another partnership with SNG Interactive, a joint ventures of Sportech and NYX Gaming Group, to launch a third, casino-game only site under the Resorts brand. Casino are allowed to partner with multiple platforms in New Jersey and it is typical for a casino to launch a site under its own brand.
While the PokerStars and Full Tilt sites may also have casino games, the Resorts Casino site will feature a variety of slot games as well as table games such as roulette and blackjack, but not poker.
Officials said they hope to launch the Resorts site by early next year.
“This is an exciting era of gaming in New Jersey and we are confident it will be another positive stepping stone in Resorts storied history,” Bailey said.
