Online Gambling - Poker Legalization Update

Who says legalized intra-state online gambling/poker is not a viable proposition? Apparently it is, and Ultimate Poker – the first ever online poker operator to enjoy a fully legalized and regulated status in the US - is proof to that end.

The site has been launched merely 3 months ago and it has already celebrated its 10 millionth hand the other day through a promotion which left one player $5k richer and awarded all the other guys at the table $500 for taking part in the milestone hand.

According to insiders, there were around 700 real money cash game players at the tables when the milestone hand dropped, which isn’t particularly impressive when positioned next to the numbers an operator like PokerStars could produce under similar circumstances, but which is certainly a sign that things are alive and well at Ultimate Poker indeed. Besides Nevada, New Jersey is also getting ready to implement legal online poker and gambling and things are indeed well underway in the Garden State as well in this respect.

According to New Jersey authorities, no fewer than 37 companies have already submitted applications to receive a New Jersey online gaming license and the State Division of Gaming Enforcement expects many more to follow suit. Unlike Nevada though, which has long been the focal point of the Nation’s gambling and poker playing ways, New Jersey is a relatively small state, thus drumming up proper player liquidity there may turn out to be more of a challenge than for Nevada-based companies.

There are good signs on the horizon though. Out of the 12 existing Atlantic City casinos, 10 have already partnered up with various online companies in order to secure their online presence as soon the State regulators give the industry the green light. PokerStars, who have been initially shunned by the Atlantic Club Casino, have found another partner in Resorts Casino Club.

With the number of land-based operators quickly running out for those online operators who still intend to use New Jersey as a launching pad back into the US market, there are companies out there which are pondering building their own land based casinos in New Jersey to provide an anchor-point. Hungry for rakeback?