Press of Atlantic City – Gambling mogul Steve Wynn has run the gamut of approaches in Atlantic City, getting his start in the seaside resort and later labeling it as “the enemy” last year in front of Pennsylvania regulators. Now, he wants back in. Wynn Interactive LLC appears to be approaching ever closer to tapping into New Jersey’s online gambling market. Wynn is part of an application to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for a waiver needed to begin Internet gambling operations.
The application filed Jan. 10 is a joint application with AAPN, also known as the All American Poker Network, and Caesars Interactive Entertainment, which holds the online gambling permits for Atlantic City’s Bally’s and Caesars casinos. The application follows a partnership announcement last September that competitors, Caesars and Wynn, had plans to work together. Seth Palansky, a spokesman for Caesars Interactive, said the existing plan calls for Caesars to host Wynn’s servers in Atlantic City. Caesars Interactive is already working with AAPN, the parent company of 888 Holdings, a Gibraltar-based firm offering high-profile web betting in Europe.
“It’s known that we’re giving Wynn Interactive the ability to use our license in New Jersey,” Palansky said. “Obviously, we don’t own our own software, and it gives them the ability to open in New Jersey.” Asked how long it might be before Wynn launches a website, Palansky said he had “no idea” of the timeline. Wynn spokeswoman Deanna Pettit-Irestone did not respond to email or phone calls Wednesday.
Additional information from the Division of Gaming Enforcement was not immediately available Wednesday as state offices were closed due to snow.
