Gaming licenses were issued by the state of Nevada to the manufacturer of online gaming system in the US. The two companies Bally Technologies and International Game Technologies got these two licenses issued with the recommendation provided by Nevada Gaming Control Board.
With the issuing of the license, Bally Technologies has become the first officially legal online poker site that can operate interstate gaming. This company had completed the process of acquisition of Chiligaming in April 2012. Chiligaming is the software that launched the free-play site of the Golden Nugget in the recent times. The acquisition allowed Bally to offer the online poker software to casino operators and also use it to demonstrate in front of the Gaming Control Board on Thursday.
The cost of licensing fee for Bally has been charged for $125,000. But according to Control Board Chairman Mark Lipparelli, it may get reduced. Once the outcome of the Nevada Gaming Policy Committee is out, the final cost will be known. News is out that the CEO of MGM Resorts International Jim Murren had expressed his preference for reduction of online gaming fees.
The second company, International Gaming Technologies got its application approved later in the day. It, therefore, became the second company to receive license issued for online gaming.
Both the companies now need to approach the Nevada Gaming Commission on June 21. The process of final approval will be conducted during this session. Once the final approval process gets completed, both these companies will start to launch real money sites to let players participate in intrastate gaming in Nevada.
As a part of the launching process, ten existing licenses have been kept in possession by the company International Gaming Technologies. These licenses are in compliance with 360 jurisdictions for gaming. Besides this, age restriction controls have been implemented in current products which are being used in Europe by this company.
Both Bally technologies and International gaming technologies will be able to manufacture online gaming systems. They will also be able to run and maintain these systems but on the condition that they partner with a Nevada brick-and-mortar establishment. No company will be allowed to run an independent online poker site without the relationship with an existing establishment.
As stated earlier, the application for license will be presented to the Gaming Commission on June 21. Even if both the companies get the license, the technology of these companies need to be vetted.
The hearing was attended by reputable companies such as Caesars Interactive Gaming, South Point, Shuffle Master, and Cantor Gaming. These and several other parties have been potentially interested in licenses as well. Once the gaming license is issued, other companies will certainly start applying for the same and try to reap profits. Mark Lipparelli had estimated that the Nevada online poker would become fully operational by the 2012 holiday season. Considering the development of events and the consequent results, this estimation is bound to become true and make the holidays even more fun and exciting than ever.
Keep track of the developments of this hottest news story and get to play gaming the real way with real money to make good profit winning games and enjoy the holidays.