888 Holdings has announced that it expects to be able to launch online poker in Nevada by the summer of 2013. According to what CEO Brian Mattingly to Reuters this past Tuesday, April 23, 888 plans to open its online poker room to Nevada players this summer, right after its software finishes passing approval by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Once that occurs, 888 Poker will be available to players in Nevada via 3 different state approval online gaming partners.
The UK based 888 will also be providing the online poker software platform for the World Series of Poker branded site being run by Caesars Interactive Entertainment. It will also provide a poker platform for several slot machine makers, including Treasure Island and WMS Industries.
Already the Nevada Gaming Commission has given its approval for more than 20 online gambling licenses to be awarded, including The Golden Nugget, MGM International, and Boyd Gaming, but none of those already granted licenses have yet announced a launch date for online poker.
Mattingly says that the complete effects of this launch financially will be experienced in around 2015. In related news, 888 Holdings is also looking at setting up shop in New Jersey where intrastate online poker has also been signed into law by Governor Chris Christie. Mattingly also says that a huge marketing push by 888 is expected in 2014.
If 888’s performance in Italy and Spain over the first few months of this year are any indication, the company is set to make a huge splash in legal US online poker when it comes to pass, and present in each state paving the way.