"After much study, we are convinced that the lack of regulation of Internet gaming within the U.S. must change," Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn said in a statement. "We must recognize that this activity is occurring and that law enforcement does not have the tools to stop it. As a company that has safely conducted gaming in the U.S. for more than 40 years, we believe that the same can be done for poker on the Internet."
Mark Scheinberg, chairman and founder of PokerStars, said his company is regulated in many European countries."(PokerStars) has been endorsing the adoption of the same approach in the United States for years, with this alliance representing a critical step in that direction," Scheinberg said in a statement. "We are excited about the opportunities that partnering with Wynn, a pioneering leader and innovator in gaming, will present for PokerStars in the United States."
PokerStars has recently been quite active in Nevada lobbying Nevada legislators on Assembly Bill 258 for an intrastate option.
PokerStars recently hired Nevada gaming executives Randall Sayre and Richard Perkins as consultants to further their lobbying efforts.
As Perkins explains: “I see internet gaming as the next extension of how Nevada reinvents itself. This is the growth vehicle for the gaming industry worldwide.”
Randall Sayre then reiterated his colleague’s view, while warning against the dangers of procrastination, and commented:
“We can stand on the beach and let it wash over us, or we can recognize the potential economic opportunity for the state.” Sayre also added, “PokerStars is a significant company that is looking to advance its agenda.”
