In a move that could signal the return of PartyPoker, or at least its software, to the U.S. market, Boyd Interactive Gaming was granted an online poker license in Nevada earlier this week. You'll recall that Boyd is linked to MGM Resorts International and bwin.party, the parent company of PartyPoker and bwin that is in the final stages of integrating its two eponymous online poker rooms.According to CardPlayer, "Boyd Gaming won’t offer games until bwin.party also is licensed in Nevada. bwin.party has applied, but hasn't had a public hearing yet." The same poker news site added that Boyd plans to use PartyPoker's software when it enters the U.S. market. Read more.
bwin.party Co-CEO Jim Ryan told PokerNews earlier this year that PartyPoker still has a considerable amount of leverage in the United States despite a six-year absence: "It's going to be a very new competitive set, but I think we can all be fairly confident that, given the brand strength that we've had, combined with our willingness to go in and spend aggressively in marketing, we're going to have a very meaningful liquidity pool."
Responding to the news in a thread on Two Plus Two, one poster joked, "God that's awesome! Does Party still have those fireworks when you win a pot?"
Speaking of PartyPoker's software, the site is expected to roll out a new version during the first quarter of 2013. In a statement made to the London Stock Exchange in late August, bwin.party officials announced to the world, "Having last re-launched PartyPoker in 2009, we have been working on the next generation version that will be rolled out during the first quarter of 2013. Comprising many new features and a new look and feel, our objective is to once again make PartyPoker the world's favorite poker room and return poker to growth."
PartyPoker was once the largest online poker site on the planet, but vacated the U.S. market in 2006 following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Its parent company is publicly traded in London and has since signed a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Government. It's also the parent company of WPT Poker.
When a licensed and regulated real money online poker room will launch in Nevada remains to be seen. The first mover was thought to be South Point, but COO Lawrence Vaughan told Vegas Inc. earlier this week, "We feel we could launch today, but you've got to go through the independent testing labs, you have to satisfy the State Gaming Control Board and because we are the first, we're going to be under the microscope. They're going to prod us every which way, and that's good. We don't want to come out and fall flat on our face and be an embarrassment for Nevada."South Point previously had a subscription-based site on the Zen Entertainment Network, which also includes titles like Poker Centerfolds and WWE Poker, but ditched the family of rooms in favor of building its own client.
Also green-lighted by Nevada authorities this week were Fertitta Interactive and Golden Nugget. The former is using its own custom-built online poker software, while the Golden Nugget has partnered with Bally Technologies.
If you're from Nevada, make sure to discuss the latest online poker news by visiting PocketFives' new Nevada poker community.
