Entain granted unconditional license in Nevada
London-listed firm praised for “really impressive” compliance journey as general counsel cites award as “great achievement”
Entain has been granted a license by the Nevada Gaming Commission as bosses have championed the “considerable effort” that has gone into transforming the business.
Entain, the 50/50 partner with MGM Resorts International for the duo’s JV BetMGM, has now been granted an unconditional license in the Silver State.
The awarding of the license comes after the Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended full licensure for the operator on May 1 after citing “extraordinary” improvements to its sustainability strategy.
The license was handed out yesterday, May 16, following presentations from company chair Barry Gibson, interim CEO Stella David, and general counsel Simon Zinger.
During those presentations, Zinger said Entain had a been on a journey of “continuous improvement” across its governance and regulatory processes.
Zinger’s presentation to the state’s Gaming Commission contained a reaffirming of the commitment to exit regulating markets should they not produce a full regulatory framework within 12 months.
The Nevada regulator described Entain’s shift as a “casebook study on how to put on governance, compliance and ethic issues” before noting the journey was “really impressive”.
Entain, then GVC, was granted a two-year license in 2019 before being handed a three-year license in 2021.
Entain plc is now registered with the Nevada Gaming Commission as a publicly traded corporation with no limitation, as a result of the new license.
Speaking to EGR North America, Zinger said: “The granting of the unconditional license in Nevada, together with the praise received from the board and the Commission in relation to our governance practices and compliance efforts, is a great achievement.
“This reflects the considerable effort that has gone into delivering on our sustainability strategy”.