DGE States Amaya Merger Could Help PokerStars Access U.S. Markets

Amaya Gaming, a Canadian gambling manufacturer, recently announced its intention to purchase the Rational Group. The new merger would include the acquisition of PokerSTars and Full Tilt Poker, the two largest online gambling brands in the world. Many experts predict that the new deal will make it easier for PokerStars to gain access to the U.S. gambling market. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement recently announced that it shares those views.

Six months ago, the DGE stated that it had decided to suspend PokerStars application for two years. However, the decision came with a caveat that the application could be reviewed again if the company's situation had improved.

DGE Director David Rebuck said that the regulator will reconsider PokerStars's license application. He said that the DGE holds itself to high regulatory standards, which means that it must review all applications very carefully. Rebuck hinted that the DGE will be more likely to issue a license to PokerStars if the merger is finalized. He also suggested that PokerStars would be a valuable addition to the state's list of regulated gaming providers.

Amaya currently holds a license to operate in New Jersey, which may mean that PokerStars wouldn't need to resubmit a license application. The new deal would also distance PokerStars from its founder, Isai Scheinberg. Scheinberg was formally indicted for violating U.S. gambling laws in 2011, but was never apprehended. The DGE cited him as one of the primary reasons that it decided to suspend PokerStar's license.

The new deal could also pave the way for PokerStars to receive an online gambling license in other jurisdictions as well. The California Legislature is expected to review a new bill that would legalize online poker in California. The new bill contains a bad actor's provision that would bar PokerStars from participating in the market. However, there will likely be ways for Amaya to work around the bad actor clause in California.