Full Tilt Licensed And Launching Soon In New Jersey, Maybe!

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Friday, January 23rd, 2015 | Written by Lucy Brown

New Jersey online poker players had their hopes raised sky high this week, after receiving a mobile pop-up message stating that new software could now be downloaded allowing them to play real-money games legally, and all approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE). As part of the message read:

“We are pleased to announce that we have a new version of our game software fully licensed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, offering real-money gameplay on a regulated online gaming platform.”

Despite only reaching those players who gamble on Full Tilt via the iOS application, the good news soon spread through social media, but players were soon left drawing a blank after being unable to download the new software. That’s because it turned out to be an “errant message”, according to Full Tilt and PokerStars communications exec Eric Hollreiser, and as he later explained:

“Full Tilt has identified and corrected the cause of an inadvertent message in its play money iOS app which incorrectly stated that Full Tilt was licensed and would soon be launching in New Jersey.”

Full Tilt Apologizes For Confusion

Whilst placing the blame on a bug, Full Tilt then took the opportunity to apologize to the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement and to any poker players who may have been “inconvenienced” by the mistake, before offering an explanation as to how such a huge gaff could have occurred in the first place. Apparently, Full Tilt is currently developing a real-money mobile poker app, which it then sent to the New Jersey’s DGE as part of its license application to offer real money in the state. As the Full Tilt statement then states:

“Unfortunately, a bug in an update to the Full Tilt play-money poker app inadvertently included a pop-up window alerting players in New Jersey that a licensed real money offering is available.. This was only a message alert – at no time was a real-money app available. No-one had the ability to play real-money games, nor register for the ability to play real money games on Full Tilt.”

Sign Of Things To Come

Whilst the premature message followed by its retraction put some New Jersey poker players on an emotional roller coaster ride, it did at least show that the Amaya Gaming Group is moving ever closer to bringing its PokerStars and Full Tilt products to the state of almost nine million residents. After all, Full Tilt having already composed its real-money game play message certainly indicates a certain degree of confidence as to its future in the New Jersey market place.

Furthermore, the near frenzied excitement created by the premature announcement also bodes well as to the reaction PokerStars and Full TIlt can expect if they do ever return to the Garden State. As one online poster explained after receiving the pop-up announcement:

“When I clicked the link it took me to the iTunes store where a message said, ‘not available in the US.’ My guess is the administration at Full Tilt put this up prematurely but I think it’s safe to [assume] that real money play on Full Tilt in NJ will be available very soon.”

March PokerStars Launch?

It couldn’t come too soon for Amaya Gaming, either, as the process has been a long drawn out affair since New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed online gambling into law as far back as February 2013. Ever since, Amaya and players alike have been patiently awaiting some good news on this front, with State Senator Ray Lesniak also adding to the anticipation by last August predicting a return of the operators to New Jersey by the end of 2015. Needless to say, this has failed to materialize and Lesniak has since amended his prediction to sometime in March 2015.

While it is not at all clear what is causing the delay, possible unsubstantiated reasons suggested include Chris Christie securing support for his 2016 presidential aspirations in return for aligning some of his political views with formidable Republican donor Sheldon Adelson. However, this theory may be a little far fetched as it would be potentially disastrous for Christie’s career if he was seen to be currying favors in return for potentially harming Atlantic City’s gaming industry.