First Online Poker Sites Expected to be Operating in Nevada Within 90 Days
Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Mark Lipparelli told the Las Vegas Review Journal Thursday (July 26, 2012) that the first licensed online poker rooms could be operating within that state in 60 to 90 days.
"I have confidence in our regulatory system," said Sandoval, a former one-term chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission. "I have confidence all issues have been considered and exhaustively covered. The technology is always evolving, but I have a level of comfort the public is protected."
Bally Technologies, International Game Technology and Shuffle Master were among the first to obtain licenses in the Silver State. South Point Hotel & Casino, which already runs a popular land-based casino in Las Vegas, has also obtained a license and hopes to be the first online. They are currently testing out proprietary software.
South Point CEO Michael Gaughan told eGaming Review Magazine earlier in the month that his online venture would ultimately dump the Zen Gaming Platform the “free to play” online poker room currently operates on.
”It (the software) was complicated and hard to download,” he said. “[The poor results were] partly down to the provider and partly because I lost interest in it when it didn’t grow as fast as I thought it would.”
At the onset, Nevada licensed online poker rooms would only be able to serve the nearly 4 million people within that state’s borders as well as those visiting. Federal legislation, should a measure pass, would allow for further expansion within states that elect not to opt out.
Nevada's online poker websites will be taxed at 6.75 percent.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
