For some time now the United States of America, home of the dream and all that jazz, has seen its states start to look at regulating online poker on a state-by-state basis. “First mover advantage” is something that many talk about as being crucial and it has nothing to do with how to conduct yourself on a night out with a young lady. It has everything to do with states chucking their hats into the entertaining online gambling ring and hoping to be approved first.
Three firms were recently approved for online poker licences in the U.S. state of Nevada and if they get Nevada Gaming Commission approval later today then it’ll be full speed ahead into the Nevada market. Who out of William Hill, International Game Technology and Bally Technologies has the best chance of success though, or will none of them be approved? There was only one way to find out…POLL!
We asked our readers the following question: “Of the firms approved in Nevada, which will be most successful?”
Coming in a distant last was none of the firms being approved with 9 percent.
Second was shared by William Hill and International Game Technology on 26 percent.
That meant first place and the spoils going to Bally Technologies with 39 percent of the poll. Being that they’re a gaming industry veteran and have had a presence in Nevada for decades is it any surprise?
It’s no real surprise they were chosen above the other two but this is more to do with some of the partnerships they’ve been tying up and not their longtime presence in the industry. Both of the other two firms could lay claim to being industry veterans and if it were a sportsbook licence then Hills may have found themselves at the top. It isn’t though and some of the poker nous compiled by Bally is impressive.
A deal done with Chiligaming, a company that was scrutinized by the GCB hearing, gives them a proven gaming system that has been successful whilst operating in the heavily regulated European market. This was followed by a decision earlier this month to team with Shuffle Master and Ongame with the collective hoping to offer a “best-in-class” solution for iGaming on U.S. soil – Nevada presumably the first in line to benefit from this.
With that we’re onto the next weeks poll when we find out which part of the industry has the most to lose when it comes to the United Kingdom’s decision concerning re-regulation of the country’s gambling industry. The treasury is proposing to tax the industry on a consumption basis with 15 percent levied on any bets that are placed by someone in the U.K.
The consultation period, which was opened on April 5 closes next Thursday (June 28), will give the government more guidance on what the design of the reform will look like. Sports betting, casino and games, poker and bingo will all be affected slightly differently by the reform and we thought it best to ask our readership which medium will take the biggest hit.
