The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has extended Amaya Gaming’s license to operate PokerStars and Full Tilt in the state of New Jersey for another 6-months, and PokerStars ink partnership with the New Jersey Chapter of Autism Speaks.
Amaya Gaming will continue offering New Jersey-based residents the opportunity to play poker, and online casino games on PokerStars after the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) granted a renewal of approval for a further six months.
Amaya Gaming forked out close to $2m to acquire the New Jersey license, so they will be over the moon to hear that they have a six-month extension, especially when you consider the heat brought on the company by David Baazov and his alleged insider trading shenanigans.
Officials initially granted approval to launch a product in New Jersey on Sep 30, 2015. On March 16, 2016, a soft launch was introduced allowing 500 punters to play around on the site before enacting a full launch on March 21.
Most reports circulating the poker world suggest that PokerStarsNJ very quickly became the market leader in the state with 16 of the first 17 tournaments hitting their guarantees, and cash game numbers running higher than their competitors.
With Baazov enjoying paid leave, and Amaya Gaming being sued left, right and centre, acting CEO Rafi Ashkenazi told the world that he hoped his teams ‘early positive momentum’ would continue, and looked forward to PokerStars NJ rolling out ‘additional marketing and promotions.’
PokerStars Creates an Alliance With Autism Speaks
PokerStars Corporate Giving Programme, Helping Hands, has formed an alliance with the New Jersey Chapter of Autism Speaks – one of the world’s leading autism science and advocacy groups.
The new alliance will see PokerStars increase their member’s awareness of autism during Autism Awareness month in April and beyond. On April 2, PokerStars will participate in an international campaign led by Autism Speaks known as Light It Up Blue, where thousands of landmarks around the world will shine blue lights into the sky in aid of the awareness programme.
The colour blue is being used to represent the fact that boys are four times as likely to be affected by autism than girls. PokerStars will support the campaign by turning their iconic Red Spade blue for the entirety of the day.
Autism affects 1 out of 68 children, 34% of children suffering from autism say the worse thing about being at school is being picked on, and, at least, one in three autistic adults experience severe mental health difficulties due to a lack of support.
