If Amaya Gaming completes its proposed purchase of PokerStars by its targeted date of September 30, the online gambling giant could be operating in the state within days afterwards.
That’s the conclusion of Online Poker Report, which notes that Amaya and PokerStars’ Atlantic City casino partner Resorts Casino Hotel are already approved for online gambling in the state.
Amaya’s purchase of PokerStars removed New Jersey’s main objection to PokerStars—namely, the involvement of several executives under indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice—and the state has said it has already reopened licensing procedures for PokerStars. In addition, Amaya already has a New Jersey gaming license, and supplies software to Caesars and the Golden Nugget.
The purchase means the indicted executives—including PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg—are divesting themselves from the Rational Group, which own PokerStars.
New Jersey never denied PokerStars a license, but simply suspended its applications. The DGE said in an email to Online Poker Report that it is now continuing its licensing investigation of PokerStars.
“While we cannot comment on the details of the division’s previous technical investigation of the PokerStars platform during Rational Group’s licensing review, division engineers and technicians have commented that it appears to be a technically strong platform. Now the DGE lab’s investigation will continue as we ensure the platform is adapted to comply with New Jersey’s regulations,” the email said.
