Will Playtech or MG ever venture into U.S. market again?

[yameater]

Now that the U.S. Justice dept. has stated it's position about gambling (by wire),
does anyone see Playtech or MG re-entering the U.S. market? I sure miss them.
Oh, the good ole days. I haven't had half as much success with RTG.
Just wondering...what are your thoughts?

 

[jetset]

Microgaming is not a publicly listed company and can therefore play its cards close to its chest, which it does, but I would imagine they would love to get back into the US market having had to gradually withdraw from it as the pressure has increased since 2006 and the UIGEA.

Playtech is a listed company and therefore has been more forthcoming about its desire to re-enter the US market, and since June last year its CEO, Mor Weizer, has openly voiced that desire and indicated that the company has positioned itself as best it can to move should legalisation come about.

In particular, Playtech has cemented a business relationship with one of the main players in the Californian bids for the legalisation of online poker - the California Online Poker Association (COPA) alliance of card rooms and tribal interests. Playtech worked through its joint venture with Scientific Games Corporation to establish a “play for fun” poker client aimed at getting players familiarised with the system ahead of potential real money gaming.

Playtech said last year that it will set up a base in California and is reportedly optimistic it will eventually become a substantial US revenue source once anticipated changes to online poker regulation come into effect.

Following the Department of Justice admission that the Wire Act covers only sportsbetting, the pressure for US legalisation has increased substantially, and Playtech has on several occasions interpreted this development as a potentially positive one for its future.

Just a few weeks ago Weizer said that Playtech is preparing itself for all new regulated markets, including the United States. He discussed that opportunity with the Reuters news agency saying, "We have lots of potential customers (in the U.S.) that approached us or that we approached that would like to have us as their suppliers of online gaming products when the market opens up."

He went on to reveal that his company is talking to several potential US partners, which he did not identify.

Playtech is also well positioned in a regional sense with its Mexican licensing agreement with the Caliente group.

 

[Surasanji]

Now that the U.S. Justice dept. has stated it's position about gambling (by wire),
does anyone see Playtech or MG re-entering the U.S. market? I sure miss them.
Oh, the good ole days. I haven't had half as much success with RTG.
Just wondering...what are your thoughts?

I imagine you'll see a playtech casino in the US before you do an MG.

But, both software vendors seem to be waiting for more clearly worded, and definitive laws for US players.

I think you'll see both in a US market in the next five years, though. But likely only in limited areas, with clearly defined licensing and regulation so they won't get burned in any way.

 

[KasinoKing]

does anyone see Playtech or MG re-entering the U.S. market?

Yes.

The more important question is; When?
Sadly I think it will be at least a couple more years yet...

KK

 

[Seventh777]

I`m with KK on this but I think it will be a lot sooner .

 

[nisosbar]

A non-topical, but related, question:

If the UIGEA did not define 'unlawful gambling', and the DOJ indicated that the Wire Act covers only sportsbetting, then does that mean that casinos WITHOUT sports betting, such as many MG casinos or poker sites (like Pokerstars), did NOT break any laws merely by offering services? I understand that the charges were that Pokerstars miscoded credit cards. What I mean is purely from a perspective of having offered the service itself.