STATE OF THE UNION
Since the US Department of Justice publicly reversed its position on the scope of the 1961 Wire Act
in December 2011, conceding it only reserved jurisdiction over sports betting, iGB Affiliate has been
reporting on the broadening of online lottery and iGaming models at intrastate level. This edition
includes updates from Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Nevada: White
Regulated Gaming Type: Regulated Gaming
Type: Poker-only
Operator Type: Applicants with existing
land-based license
Go-live Date: Live. There are now two realmoney online poker platforms in operation
in Nevada: WSOP.com and Real Gaming,
formerly South Point Poker. Two more online
poker rooms are slated for launch, under the
888 and Treasure Island brands. Both will
join WSOP.com to form the 888-powered
All American Poker Network in Nevada. The
AAPN sites in Nevada started to pool liquidity
with 888’s three online poker sites in Delaware
in late March 2015, following the interstate
compact agreement signed in February 2014.
A Las Vegas Sands-supported bill to prevent
Nevada entering into compacts for games
other than online poker was introduced in
late March. While AB 414 would potentially
restrict operators from pooling liquidity for
progressive slot jackpots across state borders,
its narrow focus has prompted observers
to ask if there is a wider purpose behind its
introduction.
Delaware: White
Regulated Gaming Type: Full-service online
gaming
Operator Type: Centralized iGaming system
via Delaware Lottery and operated by the
three state casinos
Estimate Go-live Date: Live. Delaware
became the first state to launch a full service
online gaming offering on October 31,
2013. The iGaming programme is run by the
State Lottery, and is powered by a vendor
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iGB Affiliate Issue 50 APR/MAY 2015
collaboration between 888 and Scientific
Games/WMS, which saw free-to-play
versions go live in August 2013. The state’s
iGaming law also provides the opportunity
to explore compacts with other states, a
function also evident in the Nevada and
New Jersey regulations. Delaware’s
888-powered poker sites began pooling
liquidity with Nevada’s in March 2015.
New Jersey: White
Regulated Gaming Type: Full-service
online gaming
Operator Type: Atlantic City casinos with
existing land-based license
Estimate Go-live Date: Live.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming
Enforcement (DGE) reported that the US
state’s online gaming market achieved both
year-on-year and month-on-month revenue
growth in March. Revenue from operators
in the state amounted to $13.2 million (€12.4
million) in March, up 10.8% on the $11.9
million posted in the same month last year.
The March total also represents an increase on
the $10.4 million recorded in February of this
year. Borgata, in partnership with online poker
brand PartyPoker, continues to lead the market
in New Jersey, having generated $4.4 million
in revenue during March, up from $3.7 million
in February. April also saw Resorts AC also
went live in real-money mode with its NYXpowered online casino platform. At the official
press launch for ResortsCasino.com and a
dedicated iGaming lounge at the Atlantic City
property on April 16, Resorts AC owner Morris
Bailey also revealed that “regulators are close
to finishing PokerStars approval process”,
White
Live (iGaming)
Green
Legislation Enabled/Lottery Online
Amber
Work in Progress/Under Consideration
Red
Undecided/Back to the Drawing Board
Blue
No Reported Movement
Black
Prohibited/ Pending Prohibition
according to a tweet by Press of Atlantic
City staff writer Reuben Kramer, present at
the event. “Bailey says Resorts will build big
PokerStars poker room if PokerStars approved,”
Kramer added.
Maryland: Green
Regulated Gaming Type: Online lottery
Operator Type: Maryland Lottery-controlled
Estimate Go-live Date: No further updates.
The Maryland Live! Casino launched a free-toplay online casino last year to build awareness
and a database, but there has been little in the
way of news since then as to when in 2015 the
lottery will be available online.
Minnesota: Green
Regulated Gaming Type: Online lottery,
instant win tickets
Operator Type: Lottery controlled
Estimate Go-live Date: Online
Georgia: Green
Regulated Gaming Type: Online lottery
Operator Type: Georgia Lottery-controlled
Estimate Go-live Date: Online
Illinois:: Green
Regulated Gaming Type: Online lottery
Operator Type: Illinois Lottery-controlled
Estimate Go-live Date: Online