PokerStars' New Jersey Debut Set for October

After an extended legal battle, and plenty of Jersey Shore-worthy drama, PokerStars is finally launching its New Jersey online poker product.
Though there’s no confirmed launch date, sources in the know (including CalvinAyre.com and OnlinePokerReport.com) suggest that PokerStars could receive its Jersey gaming license and be completely operational as soon as October 20.
At least one industry analyst, Chad Benyon of SVP Equity, says PokerStars could be granted a license within 20 days. Once they’ve got their New Jersey gaming license in hand, the Amaya Gaming owned operation could be up and running within weeks.
The mere fact that PokerStars has made it this far in the licensing process speaks volumes about Amaya Gaming and the job they’ve done turning around the once-maligned online poker site’s reputation.
Remember, barely two years ago, New Jersey regulators pushed PokerStars out of the market entirely by suspending their license application. At the time, American gaming interests were still pretty hot under the collar about PokerStars’ role in bringing down the US-facing industry in 2011.
Though it hasn’t been cheap, Amaya (who did not own PokerStars in 2011) paid out millions to settle outstanding claims from Black Friday-burned players and soothe American regulators. With a license withing striking distance, the company is definitely a force to be reckoned with on the international and US igaming market.
PokerStars presence on the New Jersey scene is good news for everyone in the US-facing industry. Not only will they bring new players to the market, they should also generate lots of attention with what is expected to be a massive marketing campaign.
In short, New Jersey’s decision to bring back PokerStars is probably going to be looked back on as a very smart move.