by Mario Alfonsi | Published on Mar 7, 2012 | Updated on Mar 7, 2012Bwin.Party, the parent company of Party Poker, has formalized their efforts to return to the USA online poker market by applying for a Nevada online gaming license. The license would allow Bwin.Party to enter a regulated intrastate online poker market in the state, which has begun issuing licenses to potential operators in recent months.The move did not come as a surprise, as the gambling giant had already made partnerships that would allow it to participate in a potentially regulated online poker market in the United States. In October, Bwin.Party entered into a partnership with MGM Resorts and Boyd Gaming. The two sides agreed to work together if and when a regulatory framework was created to offer online poker in the United States.While federal legislation has not yet arrived in America – and most analysts don’t expect legislation on the topic to be discussed in 2012 – state level efforts to regulate online poker have gained momentum, with Nevada being the first state to craft online gambling regulations. While no date has been set for when operators might be allowed to begin offering online poker, the state has steadily been moving forward with the licensing process.The Nevada regulations allow for several types of licenses that may be awarded. In order to operate an online poker site, a company must have a physical, brick-and-mortar casino presence in Nevada. However, foreign firms may also apply for licenses as service providers, allowing them to provide and maintain software to operators.Bwin.Party is applying for a service provider license, while partners MGM and Boyd are both seeking operator licenses. They are just three of the 24 companies that have applied for various licenses with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Other major players in the online gambling world that have applied for licenses include IGT, 888 Holdings, and Boss Media.
