WMS and Stratosphere expected to receive Nevada licences today
Service provider and operator go before NGC after being among last to receive recommendation from outgoing Gaming Control Board chairman Mark Lipparelli.
The owner of Las Vegas’ Stratosphere Casino is expected to become the third licensed online poker operator in the US later today, while WMS Gaming is set to become the fifth licensed service provider.
Online poker marketing affiliate PokerTrip Enterprises is also set to become the first licensed affiliate in the Silver State at the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) hearing, having become the last companies to receive recommendations from Nevada Gaming Control Board chairman Mark Lipparelli, whose impending departure was exclusively revealed by eGR North America on Tuesday.
American Casino & Entertainment Properties (ACEP), the holding company for the Stratosphere, Vegas-based PokerTrip Enterprises and Illinois-based WMS Gaming all received approval from Nevada’s Gaming Control Board earlier this month and are expected to meet little opposition from the NGC.
ACEP had originally applied for both operator and service provider licences in February, but has since requested to withdraw its service provider application. The Stratosphere owner would be the third licensed online poker operator following the licenses awarded to South Point Poker and Monarch last month.
WMS Gaming would become the fifth licensed service provider after Bally Technologies, IGT, Shuffle Master and payment processor Global Cash Access. WMS has provided slot machines, video terminals and game software for land-based and online casino operators since 1999.
Earlier this year it announced a strategic alliance with Dragonfish, the B2B arm of 888 Holdings, and acquired online gaming content developer Jadestone Group, as well as social and mobile game developer Phantom EFX.
WMS’ egaming division Williams Interactive, launched in July, launched two social casino games on Facebook and its UK-facing brand Jackpot Party has released several online slots this year.
Lipparelli, who spoke at eGR NA‘s Power Summit in Laguna Beach last wekek, has overseen the awarding of all the online poker licenses so far. In a statement, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval said: “Mark has dedicated himself every day for four years to working to maintain Nevada’s leadership in the gaming industry and I thank him for his loyal service to the state.”
Earlier this week, Vintage Vegas Gaming, the company that owns former World Series of Poker host Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas, became the latest operator to file an application for licensure.