As the online poker industry in the US is slowly returning to normal, Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment has taken an incredibly bold step. A recent press release states that the online gambling company has agreed to sign a partnership deal with the United Auburn Indian Community (UAIC) of California. This deal will put Bwin.party in an advantageous position when online poker is legalized and regulated in the state.
The online poker community of California hopes that Internet poker in the state will soon be licensed and regulated since a bill proposing the authorization of poker is in the process of being approved and passed.
Bwin.party, an online gambling company based in the UK, has also applied for a license to operate online poker gaming businesses in Nevada. If the license is granted, Bwin.party poker software will power online poker sites operated by MGM Resorts.
The agreement that Bwin.party is on the verge of signing with UAIC will be in force for 10 years. UAIC is the owner of Thunder Valley Casino Resort, which is located near Sacramento in California.
The Auburn Indian Community is a native Indian tribe that enjoys federal recognition. Since they already have a land-based casino in California, UAIC will be qualified to apply for a license to run internet poker facilities in the state. According to the partnership deal between Bwin.party and UAIC, the online gambling company will supply the equipment and expertise required to operate an online poker business in California.
According to Norbert Teufelberger and Jim Ryan, both CEOs at Bwin.party,
“California is known to have a noteworthy amount of poker players who like to play poker on the internet. Linking our own important assets and properties with those of UAIC will produce a solid organisation that is well-placed to seize the chances that will arise if suitable online poker legislation is passed in the Golden State.”
Regarding the suitability of Bwin.party as a partner for UAIC, UAIC Chairman David Keyser said that the online gambling company’s online poker experience, technology, and player loyalty are unbeatable. He also remarked that legalization of online gambling in the US is inevitable.
Although the US federal government has not yet legalized and regulated the country’s Internet poker industry, the Department of Justice (DoJ) ruled in December 2011 that online poker does not fall in the list of games of chance. This has opened a golden door of opportunity for intrastate online poker gaming.
