The Nevada Gaming Commission has approved a license for a U.K.-based online casino, bingo and poker games company called 888 to provide legal online gambling services in the United States. This is the first time a company uniquely providing online gaming has been licensed by any US jurisdiction.
888 is a publicly traded company with an $863 million market value. It bills itself as the largest online casino in the world, and is the fifth-largest online poker network in the world according to traffic rankings compiled by PokerScout. However, the online gaming giant 888, which is headquartered in and regulated by the Government of Gibraltar said on March 22 that the Nevada Gaming Commission has approved 888 a license to act as an ‘Interactive Gaming Service Provider’ in the United States. Nevertheless, the news is significant because 888 is the very first truly Internet-only gambling company to obtain a license to operate in the US.
Other online companies pushed very hard to get the license, but seems like 888 was in luck. Brian Mattingley, CEO of 888 said, “This is an historic moment for 888. This is the first time a company uniquely providing online gaming has been licensed by any US jurisdiction.”
The license provided by Nevada Gaming Commission will allow 888 to power Caesars Interactive Entertainment‘s WSOP poker brand, and support slot machine manufacturer WMS Gaming in offering an online product to its customers.
Mattingley also added that the State of Nevada’s decision ‘vindicates 888’s US strategy’ and that the company will be re-launching the 888 brand in the US following the finalization of platform approval.
888 has already signed a deal with Las Vegas operator Treasure Island to launch online poker in Nevada. That means 888 plans to launch a poker site and then an online casino for players in Nevada. No timeline has been announced, but 888 will surely enter in the US, very soon.
Source: The Next Web
Thanks To: The Verge
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