Caesars to Launch Nevada Online Poker This Week
For months now, the real-money online poker market in the state of Nevada has been up and running relatively smoothly, albeit with only one room offering games.
All that is set to change this week, with Caesars Entertainment announcing on Monday that it will open its World Series of Poker-branded real-money poker site in the state on Thursday morning.
Historic event for a historic brand
Speaking on Monday’s conference call, Caesars Enterntainment CEO Mitch Garber said, “This is a historic moment for our company. A state-of-the-art poker offering from one of the most established and regulated operators in the United States, is finally here. We have taken the 43-year-old World Series of Poker brand and combined it with the Caesars Entertainment portfolio of assets to provide consumers with what we believe will be an unrivaled poker offering to satisfy today’s technologically savvy consumer. We will bridge land-based and online gaming in ways that have never been seen before.”
Launch of WSOP.com site will be watershed moment
Certainly, the launch of the WSOP real-money poker site will be the largest such opening to date. That isn’t saying a whole lot, however, as Nevada is so far the only state in the U.S. with an operational Internet wagering market, and in the Silver State only online poker is permitted.
The first site to open its virtual doors, Ultimate Poker, launched back in April of this year and last month completed a software upgrade following the end of its 90-day test period, during which it was closely observed by Nevada gaming regulators.
The site, which will be immediately available to users both for PC and Mac, will also offer a wide variety of tournaments and games.
According to a press release put out by Caesars, the following will be available:
1. Cash games, Sit & Go’s, Satellites and Multi-table Tournaments
2. Buy-ins for cash games that start as low as 1¢-2¢ and tournaments that start at $1.10
3. Daily $100 and $25 freerolls for players of all level
4. Limit and No-Limit Hold’em with full table and short-handed games, plus the popular Omaha variant will be offered including Omaha Hi-Lo, as well as Seven Card Stud
5. Deposit methods including ACH (e-Checks), Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards and withdrawal methods including ACH and paper checks
Nevada the first to regulate, first to launch
Though two states have now followed suit – Delaware and New Jersey – Nevada was the first state in the nation to pass a law regulating online betting. It was also the first to get underway, however soon it will be joined by the two east coast states that have also passed online gambling regulation.
Real-money wagering sites are expected to go live in both Delaware and New Jersey later on this fall. The launch of Internet betting is especially anticipated in the Garden State, where regulators and industry experts are hoping online gambling will be able to turn around the flagging Atlantic City online casino industry.
