Jim Ryan back in the game

California will be the key to success for online gambling companies in the US should they pass laws to become the fourth state allowing online gambling. That could be sometime in 2014 and for the 38 million residents, tribal casinos and interested online operators would mean that the largest US state would be able to call the shots on any interstate compacts.

No surprise then that former CEO of bwin.party Jim Ryan has joined up with arguably the best poker player in the world Phil Ivey, former director of bwin.party Michael O’Malley and the Pala Indian tribe in California to form Pala Interactive LLC.

 

The new company will work on bringing an online poker offering in the state with the backing of the Pala Indian tribe who own the Pala Casino resort spa. Bringing in Phil Ivey as their ambassador will offer a very recognizable face to the company and with Jim Ryan as CEO who many observers say did a fantastic job while at the UK online gambling company during the merger of party gaming and bwin, the new start-up will have a very safe pair of hands to guide it through its passage into online gambling.

 

Michael O’Malley who has a wealth of experience in the poker industry with Card Player magazine, Wynn Las Vegas and Harrah’s will bring the expertise and skills needed to ensure the company are successful and highly competitive.

 

Robert Smith the Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians supports online gambling in the state and wrote a letter in May of this year encouraging the other Californian tribes to back the Tribal iPoker Bill.

 

California is the key state to success in the online gambling market and some of the most recognized faces and names in the business are now firmly in position to push the state into the fledgling sector.