New Jersey Poker Players Support PokerStars Bid For Atlantic Club Casino

Written By Janice Doughtrey

A heads up battle over casino ownership is underway between the American Gaming Association and PokerStars.  The Poker Players Alliance waded into the debate by surveying New Jersey residents for feedback on the legal battle, and the results suggest PokerStars has more support than the AGA claims.

The online poker giant submitted a bid to purchase the Atlantic Club casino after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie legalized online gambling within the state.  If the purchase is given the green light, PokerStars will legally reenter the US market after being forcibly removed after the 2011 Black Friday scandal.  The AGA represents the interests of US based gambling operators, and argues the New Jersey gambling regulators should reject PokerStars bid given their illicit history.

The PPA decided to survey poker players in New Jersey to gather player opinions on PokerStars and their potential reentry into the US gambling market.  The PPA surveyed 996 players, and 85 percent of respondents ranked PokerStars with a 4 or 5 out of 5.  Respondents overwhelmingly supported PokerStars bid for the Atlantic Club casino with 95 percent of people suggesting they would visit the casino under its new ownership.  The same volume of respondents is opposed to the AGA’s case.

The PPA says the survey results prove New Jersey residents are willing to support PokerStars reentry into the market, and are overwhelmingly supportive of online poker in general.  The PPA says in addition to helping PokerStars with its bid of purchase, the survey results should comfort Governor Christie that the online gambling law was the right decision.