Las Vegas Review Journal – New Jersey gaming regulators have given Wynn Resorts Ltd. approval to offer an Internet wagering website within the state’s boundaries, but a spokesman for the Las Vegas-based casino operator said the company’s online gambling efforts are on hold.
Wynn Resorts spokesman Michael Weaver said Monday that the company, which is headed by Steve Wynn, doesn’t view online gaming “to be a good entrepreneurial opportunity. Consequently, our plans are on hold until we understand the business opportunity.”
In actions taken in late January but made public Monday, New Jersey’s Gaming Enforcement Division granted authority to Wynn Interactive to conduct Internet gambling with partner Caesars Interactive, a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corp.
The division also granted a request by Wynn and Caesars Interactive to conduct Internet gambling operations with the All American Poker Network and 888 Atlantic Limited, an affiliate of a Gibraltar-based online betting firm 888 Holdings.
However, in an interview with political commentator Jon Ralston, which appeared on Ralston’s website Sunday, Wynn said he now doesn’t see a “business opportunity” in online gaming. Wynn also said he questioned the technology used to track players and block minors from gambling online.
Wynn told Ralston the technology “was impressive if you were a cyberguy. But it was bullshit.”
Wynn stopped short of calling for an all-out prohibition of legalized online gaming, which has been proposed by Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson. Sources said Wynn does not plan to financially back the effort by Sheldon Adelson to halt online gaming legalization in Washington, D.C., or state by state.
New Jersey approved Wynn for a so-called transactional waiver that enables the company to offer Internet gambling with Caesars Interactive, which has two of New Jersey’s Internet gambling permits.
