The Nevada Gaming Control Board has advised interested parties that the major land gambling group Wynn Resorts Limited has joined the list of applicants for a Nevada online poker licence, bringing the number of applicants to 30.
The Board recommended the applications of Bally Technology, International Game Technology and William Hill plc to the Gaming Commission last week (see previous reports) and is currently working its way through the list.
Wynn’s principal shareholder, gambling tycoon Steve Wynn, is no stranger to online poker; prior to Black Friday he was reportedly in talks with Pokerstars, on an embryo venture which died stillborn when the federal enforcement authorities shut the door on internet poker in the United States with actions against Pokerstars, Full Tilt Poker and the Cereus network.
There have also been rumours of a possible deal with social games developer Zynga, which has a highly successful ‘for fun’ online poker game on Facebook.
According to the NGCB the latest licence applicants also include WHG Ltd. (Playtech); Global Cash Access; Z4 Poker LLC; LV Gaming Ventures LLC; and SG Gaming Inc. Wyle Laboratories has applied to be a testing agency.