INFORMATION ABOUT THE ELEVEN NEVADA OPERATORS

There are eleven “operator” applications that are listed on file, the early returns on prospects for Nevada online reveal that online poker shows a market that is likely to be competitive overnight.

From the player’s perspective the operator applications may be the most important of many licenses set to be offered by Nevada because they are closely linked to the companies and brand decisions that the players will have to make in the coming months.

There are eleven businesses that have applied to operate Nevada’s online poker sites and they are:

South Point Poker, LLC

South Point poker is a division of the far-south-Strip South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, the owner is Michael Gaughan. They have easily gone through the suitability hearings and are said to back up Gaughan’s claims that South Point is going to be the first site that will be running for real money. South Point has also applied for a manufacturer’s license with online poker and has brought about the future website’s operators. South Point is already forging ahead and testing their new software platform which is different from play-money, South Point poker website that exists on the ZEN Entertainment Network. South Point is said to debut real-money website ahead of its competitors.

Caesars Entertainment

The Nevada gambling market would be complete without Caesars Entertainment. Caesars has applied only for an operator’s license and has partnered with 888 Holdings.

888 Holdings PLC, under its 888 US Limited subsidiary, has likewise submitted an application in Nevada for manufacturer and service-provider licenses. Neither Caesars nor 888 have yet faced a suitability hearing. Caesars has also obtained the Israeli social-gaming creator Playtika.

Boyd Gaming

The locals-oriented Boyd Gaming owns three downtown Las Vegas casinos — the California and Fremont Hotels and Main Street Station also have many well-known brand properties that are Sam’s Town, the Gold Coast and Suncoast. Boyd is also known for owning 50% share in the Borgota and represents fascinating licensing possibilities ahead. Boyd has an operator and service provider applications with the firm that looks to its deal with bwin.party subsidiary BP Gaming Entertainment Inc.

MGM Resorts Online, LLC

MGM Resorts Online is a division of the MGM Mirage entertainment empire with a billionaire investor that is Kirk Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corp. This is still MGM’s largest shareholder. There are also other MGM casino brands whose names in the future may become online poker sites and they are Luxor and Mandalay Bay.Just like Boyd Gaming, MGM Resorts announced a deal that was held between bwin.party this February to provide non-exclusive software services that are connected with Nevada online poker and is also dependent on bwin.party’s success in passing suitability and avoiding delays.

GNLV Corp. (Golden Nugget)

The Golden Nugget is the light of Las Vegas’ many downtown casinos. Among GNLV Corp.’s deals that are in connection with online poker there is an agreement with ChiliGaming to offer free-play online poker in the United States and join with Bally Technologies, which is one of the first to be approved. Bally Technologies announced that it had acquired the ChiliGaming B2B platform this year just after Golden Nugget announced its deal with ChiliGaming and also this year Golden Nugget announced its deal with ChiliGaming. It is said that a Golden Nugget themed website is going to be one of the earliest rollouts among the new players.

LV Gaming Ventures (M Resort)

Penn National Gaming’s M Resort the deluxe property ten minutes south of the central Strip, is among lesser-discussed applicants to date. Penn National’s failed acquisition of Caesars (then Harrah’s) half a decade ago obscures the company’s widespread holdings, including the nationwide “Hollywood Casino” brand, Biloxi’s Boomtown casino, and a handful of casinos and racetracks. Little has been announced about possible partnerships in support of LV Gaming Ventures’ operator-only application.

Fertitta Interactive, LLC / Station Casinos LLC

The Fertitta family’s business looks like it is going to be a big player in the future of Nevada poker. It is similar to Gaughan and South Point which are major proponents in the poker market. Fertitta Interactive has applied as an operator and manufacturer. The Station Casinos LLC has only applied as an operator. Fertitta Interactive has announced the pending rollout of the “Ultimate Poker” brand which is related to Ultimate Fighting Championships franchise. The group had decided to purchase software provider Cyberarts in the year 2011 and enter into an agreement with Full Tilt Poker and the deal was soon set back after Black Friday. It is quite possible that brands connected to the existing casinos would be placed under the Station Casinos LLC license. The third entity Fertitta Acquisitions co has applied in both manufacturers and service provider categories.

ACEP Interactive LLC

American Casino & Entertainment Properties (ACEP) is a locals-oriented chain of gambling that is known for carrying more Nevada public recognition that what the outside people know. ACEP owned properties include Stratosphere, Aquarius and Arizona Charlie’s with the business’ four properties that were gained in 2008 by Carl Icahn and lost money in the earlier years. The online division of ACEP Interactive does not have a manufacturer’s application that is listed on file and has yet to announce to partners for online poker rollout.

Wynn Resorts Limited (Wynn Las Vegas)

Wynn Resorts which is owned by Steve Wynn has partnered up with PokerStars due to the great excitement with Nevada’s online poker prospects. Poker Stars has not yet applied for a license and Wynn has not yet announced a solution. It is quite likely that Wynn Resorts Limited will be one of the first five rollouts.

Monarch Casino

Monarch Casino which is in Reno has passed its suitability hearing but lacks the software and the right partners to date. The owners are still considering if they should jump fully to Nevada’s online poker market.

Source: Pokerfuse