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FULL TILT POKER - STATION CASINOS LINK CONFIRMED (Update)

Source: bluffed.net


Station owners involved in deal

Rumours earlier this week that Full Tilt Poker and the Nevada land gambling group Station Casino Inc were in talks regarding a joint enterprise (see previous report) have been confirmed by the Wall Street Journal.

The respected US business publication revealed Thursday that a company branded Fertitta Interactive has been set up by Station owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta and other gaming executives to participate in a joint enterprise with online poker's second largest internet operation, Full Tilt poker.

The new follows earlier reports of land-online partnerships between 888 and Caesars, and Wynn Resorts and Pokerstars.

The WSJ reveals that the Fertitta - Full Tilt partnership was forged late last year, although it will only be formally announced today (Thursday). The agreement is contingent on internet poker being federally legalised in the United States - a condition similar to that between Wynn and Pokerstars.

If such legalisation and licensing is successful, then Full Tilt and Fertitta will set up an internet poker operation together.

Tom Breitling, an experienced businessman who is a part-owner of Fertitta Interactive, has emphasised that US federal legalisation is pivotal to the deal, apparently putting aside the possibilitities of state-by-state legalisation.

He is however clearly supportive of the fundamental concept of legalisation, saying that this would be good for the industry in Nevada, bringing with it both job creation and tax revenues.

Full Tilt and Fertitta will be supporting federal attempts at legalisation in the meantime.

Among the Fertitta brothers' business interests there are opportunities wider than Station Casinos for cross-marketing if an internet operation is ultimately set up. These include Ultimate Fighting Championship, in which the brothers hold a majority stake.

Related News Tags: Full Tilt, Pokerstars, 888, Caesars