PokerStars to Return to U.S. on March 21
Ever since Black Friday shattered the online poker scene in the U.S., American players have been waiting with bated breath for the day PokerStars, the world's leading online poker operator, would make its return. Nearly four years later, that date has been announced — PokerStars will open its regulated online poker room in New Jersey on March 21, ABC News reported.
PokerStars will be entering into the market with two competitors. Borgata and current online partner bwin.party have the largest market share with a little over 50 percent of the revenue, while Caesar's and online partner 888 have the rest. Thus far, the market in New Jersey appears to generate a steady amount of roughly $2 million per month. It remains to be seen whether the entrance of PokerStars has a material effect on that total.
How much of the proverbial pie PokerStars will claim is another question, but according to Chris Grove of OnlinePokerReport, the "prevailing opinion is that PokerStars will more or less immediately rocket to or near the top."
As with the rest of the regulated New Jersey virtual card rooms, players will be fenced in and playing only against fellow New Jersey residents.
David Baazov, CEO of PokerStars parent company Amaya, voiced his excitement with the return to the U.S. market.
"PokerStars is the global leader in online poker and trusted by its customers for its robust and innovative technology, world-class security and game integrity," he said in the ABC News story. "We are honored and excited to now bring these experiences to New Jersey."
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