Golden Gaming has received preliminary approval to join the online poker campaign of Treasure Island and 888 Holdings; there are no more clowns playing poker at Circus Circus as the big top closes it’s poker room ‘indefinitely’; and it’s BRAVO for the newly refurbished poker room at Mandalay Bay.
It was back in January that intrepid reporter, Steven Stradbrooke, brought you the news that Golden Gaming had been awarded an interactive gaming operator license by the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC).
In that piece, Stradbrooke mentioned that the Golden Gaming CEO, Blake Sartini, was quoted as saying: his online poker ambitions weren’t quite ready for primetime, but that he’d wanted the license so he could be ‘ready when it makes sense.’
It’s seems it still doesn’t make sense for Sartini and his crew to join Ultimate Poker as the only legally operated real money online poker site in the US, but they are ready for the primetime; as the NGC have given preliminary approval for a marketing agreement, that will see the state’s largest tavern operator marry up with Treasure Island and 888, in a deal that will see them herd as many players as possible through to the 888 platform.
The agreement will allow Treasure Island to reach outside of the strip, and into the local market, through the use of Golden Gaming’s three Pahrump Casinos and 40 wholly owned statewide tavern operations. It’s a smart move in a sector where liquidity will make the difference between a successful venture and a damp squid.
Talking about the deal, Golden Gaming attorney Michael Alonso told the Gaming Control Board, “It’s unique and allows Golden Gaming to market 888’s platform to its customers.”
The deal does not include access to Golden Gaming’s impressive slot machine route to market, although Alonso didn’t rule this out as a future point of contact for more online poker players.
“This is a good example of new ideas coming to the marketplace,” Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett said. “It’s an attempt to add further liquidity. I, for one, welcome it.”
The NGC has until Sep 26th to make an official announcement on the deal, and there are still no planned launch dates for Treasure Island’s online offering.
No More Clowns in the Circus Circus Poker Room
Brian Pempus over at Cardplayer.com has reported that the poker room at the famed Circus Circus Hotel & Casino, on the Las Vegas Strip, has been closed ‘indefinitely.’
The news follows sharply on the heels that the M Resort in Las Vegas was also closing its poker room, this time to make way for more slot machines. The Circus Circus poker room consisted of five cash game tables, and their lack of use has led to its inevitable demise.
The closure is yet more deadbeat news after financial reports indicated declining revenues in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri’s casino business.
It’s BRAVO for Mandalay Bay
On a brighter note, Genesis Gaming Solution has announced that it’s completed the installation of the BRAVO poker table management system at the newly renovated poker room in Mandalay Bay.
The fresh looking poker room contains 10 tables that are now run smoothly thanks to the installation of the new equipment. Although the equipment provides a one-stop-shop for the card room managers, one would think that a 10-table card room wouldn’t be that difficult to run optimally, but on a grander scale the BRAVO poker mobile app will now include the ‘real time’ seating and waiting list information for players seeking a live game on the Strip.
“We are grateful that Mandalay Bay has chosen BRAVO Poker to manage its newly renovated poker room,” said Randy Knust, President of Genesis Gaming Solutions. “We believe that our BRAVO Poker system and BRAVO Poker Live mobile app will be instrumental in streamlining the Mandalay Bay’s poker room operations as well as creating an enhanced overall player experience.”
