Canadian gambling company Amaya Inc. announced on Thursday that its online poker room PokerStars is to go live in New Jersey on March 21. The announcement comes after the operator received the necessary approval by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement to launch both the PokerStars and Full Tilt brands in New Jersey back in September 2015.
Amaya and the state gambling regulator will now conduct a preliminary testing period and a beta period, during which a limited number of players will be able to play on PokerStars.
Commenting on the latest announcement, Amaya Chairman and CEO David Baazov said that with PokerStars being the leader in the provision of online poker options, they feel honored and excited to offer that experience to New Jersey-based gambling customers. The executive further added that they are thankful to Resorts Casino Hotel, Amaya’s New Jersey partner, and are looking forward to a fruitful collaboration.
Мorris Bailey, owner of the hotel and casino complex, said that his venue has long been a preferred Atlantic City partner for some of the most popular brands. He further noted that with their collaboration with Mohegan Sun and now with Amaya and its PokerStars brand, Resorts Casino Hotel is offering customers both the best traditional brick-and-mortar and online gambling experience.
The casino owner also added that the launch of the popular online poker brand will additionally bolster the positive momentum they have already gained in the state online gambling market.
The PokerStars product offering will be available to New Jersey gambling customers on desktop, mobile and tablet platforms. Players will be introduced to online versions of some of the most popular poker variants and will be able to play in various tournaments, including the recently introduced Spin & Go ones. Apart from poker, New Jersey residents will also be able to play a number of other casino games on PokerStars, with blackjack, baccarat, roulette, video poker, and slots being among those.
The March 21 launch will represent PokerStars’ return to the US online gambling market, after the brand, together with a number of other online poker rooms, was banished from the States back in 2011. Back then PokerStars had different owners – businessmen Isai and Mark Scheinberg. In August 2014, David Baazov and his Amaya purchased the Rational Group, parent company of both PokerStars and Full Tilt, for the amount of $4.9 billion and this turned into the most expensive acquisition deal in the online gambling industry.
It seems that the change of owners made New Jersey gambling regulators give PokerStars a second chance, as last September they gave the brand the nod to commence operations within the state.
