The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma launched on Wednesday phase one of its international free-to-play online casino project. The new website is now available to residents of the United States (excluding Oklahoma) as well as to players from international markets. The PokerTribe online casino features poker, pull-tabs, bingo, and other gaming options. Phase two of the project will come with more gaming titles and options for real money play, with those accessible only to foreign players.
The tribe has partnered with developer and provider of software for the online gaming industry Universal Entertainment Group and the latter is now powering the gaming website by means of its platform. A third phase has also been projected for the PokerTribe brand. It would allow for the online gambling site to become available on board of international cruise ships and flights.
The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma first announced plans to launch an international online poker and casino website in September 2015. Tribal officials submitted their plan to the Oklahoma Gaming Compliance Unit. As it was expected, the state questioned whether the tribe’s intention should be considered a violation of its gaming compact.
An independent arbiter was called in to voice his opinion on the matter. Charles Chapel, a former judge from the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals, ruled that the use of Internet for the provision of certain covered games was simply a technology means for offering players from regulated markets the chance to play certain casino games and poker formats. Mr. Chapel further noted that the tribe’s plan was not an extension of the existing compact and did not amend it in any way.
Oklahoma officials accepted the arbiter’s decision and in April, federal authorities also gave it the green light. With PokerTribe now live, it is the only website to be providing online poker and casino games to international customers from within the US.
In 2014, Universal Entertainment was planning to launch an online casino with two other Oklahoma-based tribes. The state ruled that the proposal was not a breach of their compact. However, federal officials did not approve the plan and it was eventually abandoned.
