NetEnt lands permanent iGaming licence in New Jersey

Swedish casino games developer NetEnt has been awarded a permanent Casino Service Industry Enterprise licence by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE).

NetEnt has been active in the US state since 2015 under a transactional waiver while its full licence application was reviewed by the NJDGE, but the new licence cements its place in the New Jersey market.

This approval marks the first time that NetEnt has secured a permanent online gaming licence in the US.

The developer, which is active in New Jersey via its NetEnt Americas subsidiary, works with a number of operators in the state.

Current New Jersey-facing customers include 888 Holdings, Gamesys US, Stars Group, Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Golden Nugget and Resorts Casino.

“We have been present in New Jersey since 2015 and have supported the regulator throughout the licensing process,” NetEnt Americas managing director, Erik Nyman, said.

“The license marks yet another step in our US expansion as we hope to enter additional states if and when they regulate online casino.”

Confirmation of the licence comes after NetEnt CEO Therese Hillman demanded improvement from the developer, despite posting an 8.9% year-on-year increase in revenue in 2018. Revenue for the 12 months to December 31, 2018 amounted to SEK1.8bn (£150.6m/€171.8m/$194.4m).

Hillman also said that NetEnt was following developments in the US in the wake of the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel revising its stance on the Wire Act.

Hillman said the ruling has “created some uncertainty”, but at this stage does not see the need to reconsider its plans for the US market, citing New Jersey and Pennsylvania as key growth states.

Image: Bob Jagendorf