The US state of Delaware is moving quickly on its intrastate online gambling legalisation program, selecting WMS subsidiary Williams Interactive, 888 and Scientific Games as its suppliers only two months after publishing its Request for Proposals.
The Eastern state is targeting an operational date of end 2013, and the joint bid by the experienced and well-established three companies will help it achieve that.
14 applicants submitted bids for the potentially lucrative contract.
WMS and Scientific Games are involved in a $1.5 billion acquisition merge, whilst in terms of an agreement signed in mid-2012, WMS will market and distribute 888’s online poker solution to land-based casino customers in legal venues in the United States, initially with a play-for-fun offering.
At the time, the two companies noted that as real money online poker becomes regulated on a state-by-state or federal basis, the agreement enables the immediate launch of a real money offering as regulations are finalised and upon licensing by appropriate gaming authorities.
In addition, the agreement facilitates the creation of an interoperable platform to enable an integrated experience between 888’s online poker solutions and WMS’ online casino solutions incorporating WMS gaming content and capabilities, providing for play-for-fun applications and appropriate wagering solutions.
Earlier this year, both 888 and WMS successfully submitted applications to Nevada’s state Gaming Control Board for interactive poker licenses in the State of Nevada.