When it comes to Illinois, the suggested legislation procedures that have been formulated to bring online poker as well as other gambling activities to Illinois also has a number of tough rules that could end up blocking many of the premier names in the industry.
Caesars Entertainment is doing everything it can to ensure that it does not flout any of the laws as it wants to position itself as the number one provider in Illinois, as it has a clear cut strategy of how it will enter the Illinois market as there is tremendous potential to build a strong and large player pool.
Most of all the major networks in existence today have operated in the US during 2006. This includes PartyPoker, Ongame, iPoker, 888, Microgaming and Boss Media. However, the new legislation means that the companies that will be allowed to become online operators in Illinois, are those companies who have valid gaming licenses in the state.
One of the ways, Caesars plans to do this is through a new partnership with Barriere Digital. Barriere is currently one of the rare online poker providers who have never launched in the United States. Barriere has its operations based in France but will now be expanding through its partnership with Caesars.
In a statement, Donald A. Colvin, Caesars CFO and executive vice president, provided more information in to the strategy behind the deal with Barriere.
We have 2 [online poker] tracks underway … The first is the use of the 888 software with minor modification, and we have the right to use that software and introduce it, for example, in Nevada under what we consider to be quite reasonable terms.
We also … acquired the right to use and customize the software platform of Barriere Digital all from France. … We have developers working on its modification to suit the World Series of Poker as we speak. So at some point when that modification is complete, we’d anticipate that we might migrate off of the 888 platform and onto the Barriere platform in due time
Since many of the states in America are getting more strict with their regulations and bans on software providers, CIE’s move to migrate to the Barriere platform is a strategic move that should enable them to be strong contenders in Illinois and eventually other states as well. The move is all set to turn CIE into a proven and reliable online poker platform provider and should enable it to expand and gain a bigger market share in the days to come.
