Speculation that the new Amaya Group ownership of online poker giant Pokerstars is paving the way for a return to the New Jersey online poker market has become increasingly heated over the past month, and the momentum for such an event appears to be growing.
Following positive comments earlier in the week by New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement chief David Rebuck (see previous reports), state Senator Ray Lesniak has now weighed in with undisguised optimism.
In a series of tweets yesterday the Senator revealed:
“PokerStars launch will spark an AC revival. Stay tuned for a major announcement…”, and in answer to a question on bigger player pools he tweeted: “Soon. Stay tuned for that also.”
A suggestion that October 1 was possibly a big day triggered another intriguing Lesniak response: “huge day bigger than anyone imagined.”
He followed that with a further tweet: “I want them [Pokerstars] in and the millions they will invest in AC and jobs they will create. AC needs both.”
And in answer to another tweet on timeframes, Lesniak wrote: “not long, weeks not months.”
The Senator followed his tweets up with further statements to the information site Poker News, commenting:
“It’s going to be soon and it’s going to be huge. PokerStars is going to make a huge investment in Atlantic City, not just in Internet gaming but in their brand and in bringing attractions to Atlantic City.”
The Senator reiterated that he expected the announcement from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) clearing PokerStars to come in weeks, not months.
Pokerstars has so far been excluded from the online gambling market in New Jersey by the suspension of its application for a DGE licence pending changes at the online poker giant that have now largely taken place (the resignation of Pokerstars founders and the sale of the parent group to Amaya Gaming in particular.)
The company has the requisite partnership with an Atlantic City land casino operator in place through its agreement with Resorts Club Casino.
Lesniak says he also has plans to “internationalise” Atlantic City online gambling, telling Poker News:
“We’re going to bring international poker tournaments to Atlantic City. This is a real game-changer for Atlantic City, both with sports betting and PokerStars, and boy this is needed.”