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Nevada online poker was legalized in 2013. However, WSOP.com is the only online poker room active in the Silver State in 2024. That could change but poker players will have to wait.
During its most recent meeting, the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) granted MGM Resorts its 14th waiver to activate its online gambling license. The commission also granted a waiver for Z4 Poker to offer a real-money online poker platform.
MGM Resorts estimates it will be about a year for Nevada to see a BetMGM online poker room. Z4 Poker has been working on its platform for more than a decade and estimated that its real money could be ready in a year.
In a perfect world, Nevada will have at least one new online poker website in 2025.
BetMGM online poker in Nevada is just a matter of time
MGM Resorts Interactive (NYSE: MGM) received a waiver for the 14th year to launch a Nevada online poker room for BetMGM. Even though the company missed the initial wave of online poker rooms in Nevada, many expected a room would finally launch in the Silver State when BetMGM started offering online poker in other states.
Poker players in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are the only states with access to BetMGM’s online poker platform. Nevada could be home to the next BetMGM online poker room.
During the NGC meeting, MGM Interactive’s lawyer Chandler Pohl said that the company had online sports betting projects on deck before it could launch BetMGM poker in Nevada. He said that everything is “lined up” for the poker room and it’s just a matter of moving forward.
Neither lawyer on hand for MGM Interactive would commit to a specific date on when BetMGM’s Nevada online poker would launch. It did seem as though it would be available before the company would have to request another waiver in April 2025.
While not happy with continued extensions the commissioners said they appreciated MGM being actively involved with the process and look forward to finally moving with a new Nevada online poker room.
Z4 Poker, real money online poker coming to Nevada
Z4 Poker currently operates a social poker room called HD Poker. The company says it has 75,000 active monthly users and plans to release a new social platform this year.
Once the new social platform is launched, Z4 Poker will resume building the real money poker platform. During his presentation to NGC, founder Eric Colvin said the Z4 Poker platform is about 85% completed.
Colvin said the company has spent $30 million while working on a real money online poker platform for more than a decade. The request for a waiver is so the family-operated business could deliver a “best-in-class” online poker platform.
Colvin said that rushing the platform without being 100% ready could harm the future of the platform and jeopardize the future of the company. This is an important factor for a small business compared to the casino corporations with online poker platforms.
Colvin would like the platform to be finished within a year. However, he would not comment that the company wouldn’t have to request another waiver next April.
Limited online gambling in Nevada
Some see Nevada as the gambling capital of the world. That might be the case for land-based casinos but that’s nowhere near reality for online casinos.
Nevada casinos want to keep players coming through the doors so there are limited online options available in the Silver State.
Online poker has been available in Nevada since 2013. Players can register for an account online like they would elsewhere.
Regulators allow sports betting via mobile devices but not online via computer like most other states. Additionally, players must open a sports betting account in person at a casino.
No other online casino games are available in Nevada.
Online poker is slow to grow in Nevada
Despite being home to WSOP live events, online poker hasn’t caught on in Nevada. WSOP.com is the only active online poker room.
South Point still has a license to operate an online poker room but that’s currently dormant. Station Casinos once operated Ultimate Poker but that closed shortly after launching.
Nevada has a relatively small population compared to most states. This means the in-state poker pools are relatively small so potential revenue for a poker room operator is low.
The state now shares player pools with Delaware, Michigan and New Jersey. This has increased liquidity for online poker players.
The promotions and marketing from a BetMGM online poker room could breathe new life into a stagnant state for those looking to play without going into a casino.
