New owner for online gambling company PokerStars

PokerStars, the world’s dominant operator of online poker sites, was banned for two years from applying for a license when New Jersey opened the door to intrastate Internet gambling earlier this year. But, should the sins of the former company owner be carried forward now that a properly license Canadian company is taking over?
That is the situation facing the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which is being petitioned by Amaya Gaming Group of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for licensing consideration after having paid $4.9 billion for the parent company of PokerStars and Full Tilt.
The latter two companies and their operators were cited by the U.S. Justice Department for cash transaction violations while encouraging poker players in this country to violate laws banning such gambling activity. Some of the indictments were resolved with the payments of fines while others against company owners still exist.
But that was the past. This is the future.
David Rebuck, the Division’s director, told Wayne Parry of the Associated Press last week that “we’ve had discussions with Amaya to reactivate the application for licensing.” He said he was encouraged by the sale of the company and the licensing talks.
“I think in the long run it will be a good story for New Jersey. I’m optimistic that they know what the rules are, and I fully expect them to be very aggressive because they want to be here.”
And they probably will want to be in Nevada…and Delaware…where Internet poker is being conducted, and in California and every other state that is considering changing their gambling laws.
The move in New Jersey is not by an unknown company. Amaya has already been approved for Internet gambling operations since its platform is being used by Caesars Interactive.
Rebuck said he could see Amaya getting approval to operate PokerStars in New Jersey by the fall.
The major provider of Internet poker facilities in Nevada is Station Casinos’ Ultimate Gaming. Whether Amaya sees sufficient poker volume in Nevada may determine its future here. Then again, there’s also the possibility of the California link.