Written by :
Published on :
Five casino companies have reportedly applied for licenses to operate online poker rooms from the state of Nevada. The state gaming board anticipates licenses to be issued as early as February.
Companies that have applied include South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa. Which became the first Vegas entity to offer a free-to-play online poker site last month. South Point would like to begin offering real cash play in the approaching months. The Nevada legislation would permit companies like South Point to allow real money play for Nevada residents. Should federal legislation pass, Nevada is likely to become a hub for Internet poker rooms, pooling players from several states.
"It's interesting to note that a majority of the search inquiries Gambling911.com is receiving for the term 'South Point Poker' are originating from the state of Nevada," noted G911 Senior Editor, Payton O'Brien.
Nevada could sustain a pool of online poker players at the onset with a population of close to 3 million, a good chunk of which gambles. Countries with similar populations like Norway, Finland and Denmark, all with around 5 million people, have long supported an significant base of online gamblers.
888 Holdings, Cantor Gaming, Bally Technologies and International Game Technology have also applied for licenses. 888 Holdings has already entered into a partnership arrangement with Caesars Entertainment.
IGT purchased Swedish-based Entraction and its network of 112 rooms, none of which currently accept US customers.
Like IGT, Bally Technologies, also headquartered in Las Vegas, wants to be a manufacturer and service provider in the industry.
While Cantor Gaming already enjoys a presence in Las Vegas as a provider of mobile gaming devices and sports wagering, a license would only permit the company to offer poker online.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
