On Thursday, South Point Hotel and Casino received an interactive gaming license from the Nevada Gaming Commission as an operator, manufacturer and service provider of interactive gaming systems in Nevada. The license will likely allow South Point to offer the first legal real-money online poker site in U.S. history.
South Point CEO Mark Gaughan intends to have the online poker room up and running by October, after the site’s technology is approved by an independent testing lab and gaming regulators. South Point acquired its own interactive gaming system and has a patent pending for the technology.
Gaughan launched a free-to-play online poker room at SouthPointPoker.com late last year, but he says the real-money site will have new software with social media elements built in.
South Point becomes the fourth company to receive an interactive gaming license in the state. However, this particular license is unique in that it allows South Point to run its operation in-house without partnering with a third-party operator.
Bally Technologies, IGT and Shuffle Master were awarded interactive gaming licenses earlier this year. All three companies will serve as business-to-business providers and will provide online poker and other interactive games to Nevada casinos looking to compete in the market.
More than 30 other companies, including casino giants Caesars Interactive Entertainment and MGM, have submitted similar applications with the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). Caesars is reportedly scheduled to meet with the three-member NGCB on Sept. 6 for preliminary license approval.
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