Supplier News
US – PokerStars announces Resorts Casino deal amid Atlantic City difficulties
By Phil - 3 July 2013
Resorts Casino Hotel and The Rational Group, operator of PokerStars, one of the world’s largest online poker sites, have reached an agreement to provide online gaming in New Jersey.
The agreement links the first casino to open in Atlantic City with one of the biggest online gaming companies in the world.
Morris Bailey, Resorts’ Company Chairman, said: “This is another blue chip partner for Resorts to complete a wonderful series of brands – Mohegan Sun, Margaritaville and now PokerStars.”
Mark Scheinberg, CEO of The Rational Group, added: “Resorts is a fantastic partner for us and we are looking forward to launch PokerStars in the US in association with the other quality brands Resorts has brought to Atlantic City. We are very happy to invest in New Jersey and we are excited about building a successful relationship with Resorts.”
The agreement is pending approval by the New Jersey regulatory authorities.
Resorts Casino Hotel made history as the first American casino outside of Nevada and celebrated its 35th anniversary in May 2013 with a new milestone: the opening of a$35m Margaritaville casino and entertainment complex that includes, among other attractions, the only year-round beach bar on the Atlantic City sand.
Mohegan Gaming Advisors assumed management of Resorts Casino Hotel in the autumn of 2012.
The announcement followed some bad news for PokerStars when a New Jersey appellate court ruled against the online poker site in its efforts to secure exclusivity in the deal to buy the land-based Atlantic Club casino, also in Atlantic City.
The initial deal between Rational and Atlantic Club casino’s owners Colony Capital was opposed by the American Gaming Association due to PokerStars’ involvement in New Jersey’s unregulated online gaming industry.
PokerStars said it has already paid US$11m of the $15m asking price for the bricks and mortar operation, which would have cemented its passage into the State’s online gaming sector. Only operators of actual casinos will be allowed to operate online gaming sites.
Colony claimed the deal was null and void due to a deadline supposedly passing. PokerStars claimed a breach in the agreement and asked a judge to ensure the casino couldn’t be offered to another party.
