Real Gaming, a Nevada online poker joint venture between 20-something cyber-entrepreneur Lawrence Vaughan and land casino owner Michael Gaughan of South Point Casino, has approached the intrastate online poker market slowly and carefully, but plans to accelerate as the market grows.
Lawrence, who is the CEO of Real Gaming, discussed the soft launch process in an interview with the publication Las Vegas Review Journal over the weekend, revealing his personal background, how he connected with Gaughan and the joint venture’s plans for the future.
Having secured the necessary Nevada licensing, the company’s real-money website went into soft launch phase in February using Lawrence’s software, but the company has held off on major advertising and marketing until it has gathered more momentum, charting a careful and steady course that involves South Point’s loyal player base rather than making a major initial splash.
But plans to accelerate are in place, and those include marketing initiatives at some future point.
Asked what had delayed Real Gaming’s Nevada launch, Lawrence explained that the company has opted for a browser-based technology plan which gives access across a wider range of player devices, but required additional care in the testing and regulatory phases.
Lawrence says he is seeing plenty of action on mobile devices – especially iPads – with casual users out and about as well as in their homes, and he predicts this will be a growing trend.
Nevada is the test bed for the young company, giving it experience and capability to operate in other jurisdictions and with other partners, Lawrence says. He views the possibility of a player-sharing compact with Delaware and other states as an encouraging sign of what is possible for online poker in the United States.