Missing info on licenses can delay the November 23 launch
The New Jersey online gambling market was set to go live on November 23 but this date will most likely be pushed back due to problems with the licenses filled by the Atlantic City casinos. According to a letter sent by the Division of Gaming Enforcement to the casino operators in Atlantic City, the applications are missing a lot of information which renders them unusable. Info such as hardware specifications, third-party vendor contracts and service providers is missing in part or completely from some licenses. The DGE now warned the casinos to submit new applications by next Friday or they will not be able to go live once the light turns green.
Even considering the fact that Atlantic City casinos revenue is going down and that there is a lot of pressure on the launch of online gambling in New Jersey, the November 23 launch date is still quite aggressive. Although things have been moving faster than they did in Nevada, it is impossible to look at the first state to legalize online poker and not notice that things are not running as smoothly as first expected. Even after several months of legal online poker in Nevada, Ultimate Poker remains the only option available, and not a very good one at that.
Compacts still on the table
A delay in the opening of the online gambling market in New Jersey can affect the already struggling casinos but it remains to be seen if this measure will be taken or if they will rush to meet the set date. The one thing that is certain is that Nevada will still look towards New Jersey when it goes live in order to share online poker liquidity.
A step towards intrastate compacts was made earlier this week as Bally Technologies and International Game Technology made a petition in front of the Nevada Gaming Control Board that would allow them to share progressive slots jackpots across multiple states. While it is not a full request to share online poker offers, it is a way to test the waters before jumping in. However, until the regulations are finalized, intrastate compacts are locked.
[geocode id=1]Nevada was expecting to get another online poker site this summer as Caesars Entertainment was making plans to launch the WSOP-branded poker room during the summer series in Las Vegas but this never happened. An announcement will soon be made regarding the new launch date for the site although the Nevada Gaming Control Board has yet to officially sign off.
Similar delays can just as easily take place in New Jersey. Given the fact that it is a new set of regulations, things can get a bit complicated and being the first to launch can mean taking on a big part of those complications. Operators that choose to launch later, when there aren’t so many bumps in the road, can miss out on the chance to attract players right from the start.
Leading offshore sites
The possibility that offshore leading sites could enter the US market through the regulations available in New Jersey can be appealing to customers and threatening to operators. Online poker giant PokerStars has been looking for ways to access the market but has yet to find one. Since the regulations don’t just allow for poker but all types of casino games, award-winning 7Red Casino would be the perfect fit. The 7Red Casino review presents it in detail and non-US players can enjoy the best looking slots on the internet while getting a 100% bonus on their first deposit.
The experience and already established name on the internet of the leading offshore sites can very easily give them the advantage in US markets as long as the regulators allow them to enter.