Although it was legalized over ten years ago, online poker has struggled to gain traction in Nevada. The activity was given the green light in 2013, and initially, three operators hopped on board to offer their services to state residents. Regrettably, out of those three, only World Series of Poker (WSOP), a brand owned by Caesars Entertainment, remained active on WSOP.com.
Nevada attempted to stimulate the growth of online poker by signing agreements with Delaware and New Jersey, two other states that have legalized the activity. This strategy was anticipated to boost poker’s popularity by establishing a shared participant pool. However, this initiative did not invigorate online poker as expected, until a mild increase in popularity was noticed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, years after online poker was declared lawful, interest in the Nevada online poker sector has been revived by two firms. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, MGM Resorts Interactive LLC and Z4Poker LLC recently presented to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). Both companies are seeking to prolong the waiver limit for their license activation period.
The NGCB meeting resulted in approval recommendations for both MGM Resorts and Z4Poker. Now, the firms will seek endorsement from the Nevada Gaming Commission. If approved, it would signify the 14th consecutive waiver extension of this type, suggesting that the companies can determine when to implement their offerings for state customers within a one-year timeframe.
Enterprises Look to Expand into Online Poker
At the recent board meeting between the two businesses and the NGCB, Chandler Pohl, legal representative for MGM, disclosed the company’s intention to branch out into online poker, collaborating with BetMGM. Pohl suggested that a shared pool might be beneficial to online poker, particularly given recent legislative developments in Michigan and the approaching legalization of online poker in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland.
Conversely, Eric Colvin, Z4Poker’s Chief Technology Officer, founder, and owner, elucidated that the success of online poker hinges upon increasing player numbers. He estimated that about 800 participants are required for a prosperous online poker launch, adding that the company currently has around 450 active players.
Colvin also recounted a significant challenge that Z4Poker faced in 2018, when Adobe Flash’s discontinuation required the company’s IT division to revamp its poker offerings. Discussing this hurdle, the company’s founder stressed that significant resources have been poured into these products since, asserting that the company is on the cusp of reintroducing its offering.
