PokerStars’ long-anticipated return to New Jersey could come within the next two months.
That’s per comments on Twitter from State Sen. Ray Lesniak:
https://twitter.com/SenatorLesniak/status/553731715769069569
Lesniak – who was largely responsible for driving New Jersey regulated online gambling from a bill to a functioning industry – has been bullish on PokerStars’ chances before.
Back in September of 2014, Lesniak suggested Stars’ arrival into the NJ online poker market was imminent:
https://twitter.com/senatorlesniak/status/510102976376356864
That turned out to be an overly-optimistic projection, as PokerStars subsequently suffered a number of unforeseen – and widely unexpected – delays in securing a license to operate in New Jersey.
And as for what’s changed on the ground that leads Lesniak to have fresh hope for PokerStars?
https://twitter.com/SenatorLesniak/status/553935139907338240
Lesniak is referencing the failed attempt by Sheldon Adelson and supporters to advance the Restoration of America’s Wire Act during the recent lame duck Congressional session.
It’s worth noting that Lesniak isn’t the only voice suggesting that PokerStars’ outlook in New Jersey has improved.
A recent note from Adam Krejcik at Eilers Research put PokerStars’ chances of cracking the NJ market in 2015 at better than 50%.