The Nevada Gaming Control Board unanimously recommended that Bally Technologies be approved for the state’s first interactive gaming license, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review Journal. While this isn’t the same as actually receiving a license, it was a historic move nonetheless.
The Hearing
Wednesday’s hearing marks the first time that Nevada has recommended any gaming company for an online license. In, this was the first time American gaming officials had considered a legal online gaming license, ever.
Bally executives had no difficulties at all answering the Gaming Control Board’s questions during the hearing. Controllers were mostly interested in hearing about Bally’s acquisition of Chiligaming, a European gaming platform. Bally Technology’s general counsel Mark Lerner presented regulators with proof Chiligaming had not taken action from American bettors since 2008.
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Chiligaming Cut Euro Gambling Ties
Once Bally receives their Nevada Interactive Gaming License, it’s expected that Chiligaming will sever all of its current ties to European online gambling shops. That clears some serious regulatory red tape for the slot machine manufacturer.
Lerner explained, “By acquiring just the technology, that takes away the risk, rather than acquiring a company and inheriting all their history.”
It’s worth noting that Bally will not actually be running an online gaming site should the Silver State approve them. Lerner made it very clear that Bally was going to maintain, “…an arms length relationships with the Internet providers (of online casinos games).
Bally will selling online wagering systems that the license casinos will be using for intrastate poker but not running sites themselves.
Las Vegas Theatrics
In keeping with Sin City’s reputation for putting on a great show, Lerner added some theatrics of his own to the otherwise straight laced hearing. After participants were dismissed, he pulled out an iPad and began playing online poker. The show was supposed to demonstrate how online poker would work. (Though it seems a safe assumption that the Gaming Control Board members have seen online poker before.)
What’s Next in Nevada?
Now that the Gaming Control Board has made their recommendation, it’s up to the Nevada Gaming Commission to give their final approval on the matter. That hearing is set to take place on June 21.
Do you think this hearing will open the floodgates to legal online gambling across the United States? Share your opinion with the CAP community on our Online Gambling Laws and Regulations Forum.