Amaya has also previously received approvals from the DGE to provide B2B online and land-based gaming solutions in New Jersey. At that time, the two brands were owned by PokerStars’ original founders, the Scheinbergs, but the brands moved to Amaya in the summer of 2014 following a $5 billion reverse takeover by the Canadian gambling firm. Executives involved in PokerStars’ acceptance of bets in the United States after the US government made it illegal to take payments in connection with illegal gambling through the Internet stepped down as part of the sale to Amaya.
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New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada are the only USA states to permit online gaming.
Late Wednesday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement approved Amaya Inc.to offer its PokerStars and Full Tilt brands in the state.
The Amaya acquisition divested PokerStars and Full Tilt of their links to the old guard, including PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg, for whom there remains an outstanding DoJ indictment related to his company’s failure to cease offering gambling to American citizens post-UIGEA.
Approval has been granted following a review of Amayas acquisition of Stars and Full Tilt in 2014.
There already were 17 authorized websites for Internet gambling in New Jersey.
PokerNews will have more on PokerStars introduction to New Jersey, and what exactly it means, in the coming days, so be sure to check back often for up-to-the-minute updates. I want to thank the DGE for their thorough and fair review of our business.
While the New Jersey market isn’t expected to be financially material to Amaya, it is viewed as a step toward broader acceptance in the U.S.
After a failed attempt to purchase the Atlantic Club Casino of Atlantic City, in January 2014, PokerStars eventually agreed to a partnership with Resorts Casino Hotel.
But now, finally, Amaya has been granted the elusive license and PokerStars and Full Tilt will be able to open up shop in New Jersey. We anticipate providing additional details of our launch plans in the near future,”he continued”.
The news, which brings to an end over a year of speculation about PokerStars’ possible involvement in the Garden State, was announced via press release by Amaya on September 30. Partnered with Resorts, PokerStars will enter into the New Jersey market as the world’s leading online poker site.
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The PokerStars website, which stopped doing business in the U.S.in 2011, paid a $547 million fine to the Department of Justice but didn’t admit wrongdoing. “We are excited about our new product pipeline and enthusiastic that we will experience growth in existing and emerging markets in the future”.
