Ahead of their planned official launch date next Tuesday, several sites in the New Jersey online gaming scene went live tonight at 6PM (Eastern Time) with what is called a “soft test.” Invited players were able to download the software of their choice at that time and, over the next five days (if all goes smoothly), the official November 26 launch date will usher in the third state in the U. S. to offer some sort of online gaming.
In the beginning, there will be limits placed on the activities of the sites per the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. From 6PM to 2AM, the sites will be active on Thursday and Friday nights with a maximum player count of 500 (normally the first players who have downloaded the software and received an invite from the site). On Saturday, the DGE will allow those operations participating in the test to expand from 8AM to midnight and, beginning on Sunday, 24-hour operation will be allowed. If there are no issues through these early test phases, then the general public will be given access come next Tuesday.
Just this morning, Caesars Interactive Entertainment received the go-ahead from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to participate in the soft test. “We are excited to be launching three of the most iconic U.S. gaming brands online for those inside New Jersey borders,” said the Senior Vice President of Caesars Interactive, Geoffrey Stewart. “With industry-leading technology and the loyalty benefits of our Total Rewards and Action Club programs, we know consumers will quickly see why (our offerings) are some of the best places to play online casino games for real money in the Garden State. The fun and action found online will reflect what our players have come to expect from our land-based properties for decades.”
There are three products being offered by Caesars Interactive: CaesarsCasino.com, HarrahsCasino.com and WSOP.com. For the CaesarsCasino offering, Amaya Gaming will provide the software, while longtime Caesars partner 888 Holdings is the software behind both HarrahsCasino.com and WSOP.com. The Caesars Initiative offerings join a host of other outlets that will provide New Jersey residents with a cornucopia of potential sites to play.
The Borgata and their partner, bwin.Party, will offer two sites that players can access to take part in New Jersey’s newest industry. BorgataPoker.com and nj.partypoker.com will offer online poker to Jerseyites while two operations look towards a full casino operation that will be allowed under New Jersey regulations. The Trump Taj Mahal and Las Vegas-based Ultimate Gaming (the ownership behind Ultimate Poker) will be offering Ultimate Casino (ucasino.com) and its sister casino, the Trump Plaza, has partnered with Betfair for what is expected to be called letsplaynj.com.
Naturally, there have been some issues with the “soft test” that have come to light on Two Plus Two. Many excited New Jersey residents who signed up for all of the sites were left out of the initial startup for Thursday’s soft test, eliciting some grumbles. The same issues that plagued the opening of Ultimate Poker in Nevada (geolocation, age verification, etc.) seemed to also affect the sites in New Jersey. Many, however, noted that they were able to wade through the hurdles regarding registration for the sites, download the software, make their deposits with an actual credit card and were playing on the virtual felt of their choice within 90 minutes of the opening gun. Other discussion revolved around the rake being taken at the tables, potential promotions that will be featured (although deposit bonuses will not be offered during the “soft test”) and what guaranteed tournaments were on the different sites
In the coming days, the Golden Nugget is expected to join in on the New Jersey online gaming “feeding frenzy,” but a few of the other casinos in Atlantic City have, as of yet, been shut out. Revel and the Atlantic Club aren’t expected to take part in the initial stages of New Jersey’s burgeoning scene (both are rumored to be for sale and the Atlantic Club recently filed for bankruptcy protection) while the “gorilla in the room,” the PokerStars/Resorts International partnership, has still not received clearance from the DGE for their participation in the industry.
