Update: PokerStars’ Atlantic Club Acquisition Faces AGA’s Opposition

This week saw the American Gaming Association, whose membership includes most of the major Las Vegas land casino operators, surprise everyone when it filed its opposition to the proposed acquisition of Atlantic City casino Atlantic Club by Rational Group, the parent company of online poker giant PokerStars. This is an unprecedented move, as the Association has never before sought to influence a licensing procedure. Its spokesperson, Holly Wetzel, confirmed that it had filed a petition with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and Casino Control Commission. The petition, of course, triggered speculation in the media that it is either an attempt to shield its members from competition in the land gambling sector, or that it has been triggered by concerns that competition in the legalized online gambling sector may be too fierce. Commenting on such a move by the AGA, Rational Group communications chief Eric Hollreiser expressed his dissatisfaction, saying: “These are matters for expert regulators to determine, not self-interested partisans picking a public fight. We will continue to work positively with regulators in New Jersey and elsewhere whenever they review our qualifications.” He also reminded that his company holds licenses in France, Germany and other countries and was allowed to purchase the assets of its largest competitor - Full Tilt Poker - in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice last year.