The moment poker players in the US - or New Jersey, at least - have been waiting for for almost five long years has finally arrived.
PokerStars' parent company, Amaya Inc., announced today it has been officially approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to offer online poker via the PokerStars and Full Tilt brands in New Jersey.
This paves the way for US poker players to play - legally, that is - on PokerStars for the first time since Black Friday in April, 2011.
Launch Date Still to Be Determined
"We are very pleased to add New Jersey to the long list of regulated markets that have found PokerStars and Full Tilt suitable to offer real-money online gaming," said Amaya Chairman and CEO, David Baazov, in a release.
"I want to thank the DGE for their thorough and fair review of our business. We look forward to bringing our popular brands, innovative technology, marketing prowess and world-class security and game integrity to the growing New Jersey online gaming market.
"We anticipate providing additional details of our launch plans in the near future."
When PokerStars and Full Tilt will be available to players in New Jersey is the next question.
No launch date was provided with the announcement although speculation is that it won't be an extended wait. PokerStars already has an agreement in place with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City to provide online poker and casino games in NJ.
Players will still be required to be physically in New Jersey and will not play against the rest of the world but the re-entry to the US market is still being hailed as a turning point for the US online poker industry.
The return of the largest online poker company in the world is seen as a necessary first step to restoring what was once a booming, nationwide industry.
New Jersey currently has a player sharing agreement with Delaware although the pools are still relatively small.
Should PokerStars also be approved in California - where it has been pushing hard - when that market opens and a player-sharing pact is signed it would make a dramatic shift in the viability of US online poker.
Currently WSOP.com/888Poker and PartyPoker are among the online poker sites operating in New Jersey.
A longtime employee of PokerStars also announced today he has a new position as Live Events Manager, North America, which bodes well for a major return for the PokerStars Live brand as well.
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