New Jersey Online Gambling Brief: Live WSOP Main Event Prize Headlines iGaming News in NJ
If you’re a player at WSOP.com in New Jersey, or have been thinking about signing up at the popular NJ online poker room, then you might want to try to get $215 onto the site as soon as possible.
This is because there is still time to win your way to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker Main Event this coming Saturday.
We’ll fill you in on all of the details to book your ticket to Las Vegas below.
Main Event dreams aside, in this installment of the New Jersey Online Gambling Brief we’ll also get you caught up on everything else going on in the world of New Jersey online gambling.
There is quite a lot to get to this week, including the latest news on PokerStars license application, another casino closing in AC, the fight that is brewing after the Supreme Court denying New Jersey’s PASPA appeal; some welcomed news on the online poker traffic front; and a whole lot more.
Showboat Set to Close its Doors
According to the Press of Atlantic City the Showboat Casino (owned by Caesars Entertainment) is going to be the latest casualty of the saturated Atlantic City market. The casino is expected to announce its closure on Friday according to a local union chief.
Oddly, the Showboat is a profitable casino. With Caesars list of debts, along with the ability to transition Showboat players to one of the company’s other three casinos in Atlantic City, the writing was on the wall with many people feeling the closing of the Showboat was inevitable.
The big story here is of the course the real-world implications, as the Showboat employs some 2,100 people according to the PofAC article.
This story is still developing so stay tuned for more details in the coming days.
WSOP.com Offering 5-seat Main Event “Scramble”
At least five more New Jersey poker players will be headed to the World Series of Poker Main Event courtesy of WSOP.com NJ this weekend.
The site will be hosting a WSOP Main Event “Scramble” this Saturday where at least five $12,000 WSOP prize-packages will be handed out for the Main Event.
Considering the five-seat guarantee, and the usual turnout for these types of tournaments, it’s quite likely there will be a nice overlay offered.
The tournament features a $215 buy-in, but satellites are available for as little as $1 at WSOP.com.
NJ: Want to play the @WSOP Main Event? Join us for Saturday’s 5 Seat Scramble. $60K in prizes are guaranteed. http://t.co/jQDC8Zhlpb
— WSOP.com (@WSOPcom) June 26, 2014
Amaya Starts PokerStars License Application
It’s looking more and more likely that PokerStars will be up and running in New Jersey sooner rather than later. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement is in talks with Amaya Gaming about the license application of their latest acquisition.
According to the most recent reports PokerStars license application is now off the table, as the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has added PokerStars to their current inspection of Amaya Gaming.
PASPA Debate About to Go Nuclear
If you’re not following the challenge by New Jersey to PASPA (the 1992 law that prohibits sports betting in all but four states) than you’re missing out on one of the most interesting gambling stories in the world.
Not only is New Jersey trying to add sports betting, but despite losing their challenge to PASPA they are still intent on pressing forward with sports betting.
This effort is being spearheaded by State Senator Raymond Lesniak, who is turning into the leader of the US gaming expansion fight. He is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done – the anti-Adelson if you will.
Here is a look at the proposed law Senator Lesniak is trying to get passed (which was easily passed by the Assembly on Thursday), and here is a look at our in-depth coverage of the PASPA fight.
Traffic Ticking Up in New Jersey
After several months of stagnation, regression, and general concern, online poker traffic numbers are starting to look much, much better in New Jersey.
US 888Poker.com of the AAPN has rebounded to 65 average cash-game players after dropping below 50 recently. Party / Borgata is creeping up as well (somehow keeping pace with WSOP.com Nevada as the US leader, with average cash-game traffic now at 150 players). Additionally, WSOP.com New Jersey has also increased their traffic over the past week or so with the site now boasting an average of 120 cash-game players.
All traffic numbers courtesy of www.pokerscout.com.
We Thought You Should Know…
Counterfeit Chip Lawsuit Tossed Out
For the time being, Chip-Gate has officially come to a close. The 27 players that were affected by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement’s decision on how to divvy up the remainder of the prize-pool will have to simply accept what they were given, as the class action lawsuit filed by six men from the tournament, claiming the Borgata failed to properly run the tournament and inventory their chips.
The lawsuit against the Borgata has now been dismissed according to the Press of Atlantic City, with Judge James Isman stating that the matter has already been investigated by the DGE, which has exclusive jurisdiction over such matters.
It may not be the last word on the matter as there is already talks of an appeal.
888 To Sponsor Poker Night in America
Poker Night in America has a new home (the CBS Sports Network) and now it has a new sponsor as 888 New Jersey has stepped up to the plate to give the upstart poker show its first infusion of money.
As I wrote earlier this week, Poker Night in America has a chance to work, and fill the sizable void created after Black Friday when it comes to poker on TV, but it needs advertisers and sponsors (especially from US online poker sites).
Good for 888 for stepping up to the plate and seeing the potential of the show and the new advertising opportunities in the US.
