Many of you will be only too aware of the strict laws on online gambling across the Atlantic, in the US. Some states, however, are more lenient than others and have, in recent years, been making steps towards adjusting their approach, legalising gambling and regulating operations accordingly. One such state is New Jersey.
New Jersey have long been considered a progressive state; keen for social reform and more choice for their residents, New Jersey were among the first states to abolish the death penalty and legally recognise same-sex marriage, for instance.
Back in 2014, New Jersey announced their intention to legalise gambling and invited interested parties to apply to offer their services to New Jersey residents. And Net Entertainment (NetEnt) were the very first EU based games developer to jump at the opportunity.
NetEnt- who have offices in Kiev, Malta, Gibraltar, Gothenburg and, now, New Jersey- began forging relationships with US-based land casinos and jumping through the necessary hoops to secure approval.
Fast forward to September of this year and, after a long process, proceedings looked to be moving a little quicker. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement took the bold step of issuing NetEnt with a transactional waiver- effectively allowing them to begin offering their products while the final, official decision was made and, by the end of September, Borgata became the first US casino to offer NetEnt slots.
Following the Borgata launch, a selection of NetEntertainment games also went live at Bwin.Party, another trusted brand in the US. Due to the fact that the NetEnt brand is a complete unknown in the US Market, the casinos are, understandably, staggering the launch of games; first opting to release a selection of the best performing games to test the waters before rolling out more of the company’s offerings.
In the months since, the American arm of the brand- NetEnt Americas LLC have been incredibly busy; first signing up with Resorts Casino to offer slots at Mohegan Sun, then teaming up with giants Gamesys and then, at the start of December, launching the popular Twin Spin slot at Caesars Interactive Entertainment.
On the 6th December, the number of casinos offering NetEnt slots was bolstered still by the release of Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, Jack & The Beanstalk and Flowers at the Golden Nugget Casino. And the company- who are one of the most established and trusted games developers in the industry, show no sign of slowing progress. We’re sure that, as other states begin to take notice, this will not be the last article we write on the subject of the legalisation of online gambling in the US.