Business development exec confirms persistent industry rumours
Persistent industry rumours that MGM Resorts is planning a new online poker and casino brand launch in New Jersey have been confirmed by the group's business development exec, Tom Mikulich, albeit without disclosing a lot of detail or a timeline.
The move follows MGM's assumption last August of full ownership of the Borgata after 13 years of joint ownership, and the new operation will apparently take advantage of the Borgata-Bwin-GVC-PartyPoker New Jersey licence and network.
The publication NJ.com reported this week that it is not yet clear whether the new initiative will continue to be powered by GVC (there were rumours earlier this year that PartyPoker may be dropped) or whether MGM will make alternative arrangements.
NJ.com reports that the addition of an MGM brand will bring to six the number of sites operating under the Borgata licence – four of them (Borgata, PartyPoker, Pala and MGM) unique brands. The online gambling sites concerned are:
BorgataCasino
BorgataPoker
PartyPoker
PalaCasino
PalaBingoUSA
MGM
MGM's buy-out of Borgata has brought more clarity to the New Jersey online market, NJ.com observes, noting that by launching a branded online casino in New Jersey the gambling giant is making a clear statement that it is committed to online gambling and to partner GVC.
InfoPowa readers will recall that GVC acquired Bwin two years after that company successfully partnered with the Borgata in New Jersey in 2013. The acquisition caused some consternation and fears that Borgata would drop the partnership, particularly PartyPoker, but these did not materialise.
NJ.com suggests that MGM's now full ownership of Borgata, and its clear intentions in the New Jersey online market, have assuaged those earlier fears.
Online Casino News Courtesy of Infopowa
