Nevada Online Poker To Launch In October
August 24th, 2012Author: B. Solomon
Sixteen months after the US government shut down online poker sites across the country, South Point Poker has now become the first casino operator to receive a licence to run an intrastate, real-money poker website, Stateside.
Following approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission, the company’s attorney stated; “South Point Poker is grateful for this opportunity,” before adding that he was, “optimistic that they would launch sometime in October.”
Putting South Point ahead of the rest of the field was the fact that the company will be using in-house software and running its own games, having developed its own online poker system from scratch. South Point said it was now testing its system using a third-party lab and would be entering its final review in just a few weeks.
In addition, casino credit service business Global Cash Access Inc, also received a licence the same day and will help process payments for South Point Poker. The South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas has already been offering free-play games on its site since last year but that software was completely different to the one to be used for its real-money games.
Michael Gaughan purchased the casino in 2006 for $576 million and the ‘Gaming Hall of Fame’ legend also owns McCarran International Airport, where he operates over 1,300 slot machines. Gaughan said he was now looking forward to his latest venture, and commented:
“We are pretty excited to enter the online gaming world. This is an incredible step forward. It’s going to redefine gaming and what the state can do.”
A legalized U.S. online poker industry is estimated to be worth around $5 billion by 2015, and more than 30 other companies in Nevada are also lining up to take advantage of the new opportunity. Caesars Interactive Entertainment and MGM Resorts International have already submitted applications to the Nevada Gaming Control Board and are expected to receive licences in the coming months,
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