In 2014, Delaware and Nevada inked the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, whereby players from each state would be able to play each other in an online environment. Delaware and Nevada – two of the three states that authorize online gambling – would allow players logging onto Delaware and Nevada licensed sites to play against one another.
As the time of signing the agreement, Nevada’s governor, Brian Sandoval said that the compact would “establish a working framework within which multiple states can collaborate productively to achieve much needed results for our citizens.”
Late last week, another state joined this compact. New Jersey, by far with the largest online gambling market, joined Nevada and Delaware so that players from these states can play online poker against each other, bringing new blood into the pool, as well as greater competition and also a lot more knowledge.
“New Jersey brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the agreement which will help further develop the network and eventually lead to more jurisdictions and more games, which will mean more revenue to participating states,” said Delaware Lottery director Vernon Kirk. “We are very excited.”
Adding more players to the pools will also allow players to find suitable stakes and styles more easily, as they will have a wider choice of games.
Kirk said that it was a win-win situation for all. “You’re much more likely to find a game that’s the stakes that you like, or the time that you like or the type of game that you like, and when you meet all those criteria, your likely to have more players,” he said.
The three states will first focus on online poker games, since this is the only game authorized by Nevada, however expanding into other games is definitely on the books. Vernon Kirk said that the introduction of progressive slot games, for example, “is the direction we will be going in once we get more organized.”
Governor Christ Christie of New Jersey said in a press release this weekend: “New Jersey has been a pioneer in the development of authorized, regulated online gaming, which has been a budding success since its launch in late 2013. Pooling players with Nevada and Delaware will enhance annual revenue growth, attract new consumers, and create opportunities for players and Internet gaming operators. This agreement marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for online gaming, and we look forward to working with our partners in Nevada and Delaware in this endeavor.”
Caesars Interactive will probably be the big winner in the beginning, as its WSOP online poker brand is the only one found across all three states.
