PokerStars and Full Tilt – the two Amaya owned poker sites are all set start operations in USA after over four years of the infamous Black Friday. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has given its nod to Amaya Inc for operating the two poker sites in New Jersey after a long review process.
“We are very pleased to add New Jersey to the long list of regulated markets that have found PokerStars and Full Tilt suitable to offer real-money online gaming,” David Baazov, Chairman and CEO of Amaya, said in a press release. “I want to thank the DGE for their thorough and fair review of our business. We look forward to bringing our popular brands, innovative technology, marketing prowess and world-class security and game integrity to the growing New Jersey online gaming market. We anticipate providing additional details of our launch plans in the near future.”
Numerous industry pros and companies poured in congratulations tweets for the World’s biggest online poker room:
Wooooooooo @PokerStars have been approved for a New Jersey gaming licence!! Back in the US again 😀 #pokerstars #amaya
— Liv Boeree (@Liv_Boeree) October 1, 2015
Congrats @PokerStars Welcome to the Garden State…seems appropriate with @RealKidPoker a Vegan and all
— WSOP (@WSOP) October 1, 2015
Welcome home, @PokerStars. We’ve missed you.
— Vanessa Selbst (@VanessaSelbst) October 1, 2015
Congratulations to PokerStars and Amaya for a space race flag plant Neil Armstrong moment in poker on planet USA…..proud to see progress.
— Nolan Dalla (@nolandalla) October 1, 2015
“Since the acquisition, we have consistently delivered on our stated strategy,” Baazov continued. “Today’s announcement follows the divesture of our B2B businesses for total gross proceeds of approximately US$524.8 million; the launch of casino games on PokerStars, which we estimate has one of the largest active user bases of any online casino; the refinancing of our long term debt and the reduction of our annual interest expense by approximately US$62 million. We are excited about our new product pipeline and enthusiastic that we will experience growth in existing and emerging markets in the future.”
According to politickernj.com, Amaya created Amaya NJ, a “direct, wholly owned subsidiary,” to run PokerStars in NJ, this according to a source close to the transaction.
The dynamics of online poker industry in New Jersey will change drastically with the entry of these two big sites. Moreover, it will be interesting to watch how Amaya Inc approaches for license in the other states based on NJ license.
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