This is very exciting news to me!

The Nevada Gaming Commission issued its first two licenses for online betting, bringing the U.S. state with the most casino revenue a step closer to real wagering on poker from home.

International Game Technology (IGT), based in Reno, Nevada, and Las Vegas-based Bally Technologies Inc. (BYI) received approvals yesterday, according to Michael Lawton, a senior research analyst with the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The approvals pave the way for the U.S. casino industry to expand into online gambling, a market that may reach $13.4 billion in five years, the estimate of researcher H2 Gambling Capital. Nevada last year was the first state to pass a statute authorizing Internet gambling. Two dozen companies have sought licenses, including Caesars Entertainment Corp. (CZR) and MGM Resorts International (MGM), the largest operators of U.S. casinos.

Online poker betting may start late this year or early in 2013, Gaming Control Board ChairmanMark Lipparellisaid in a telephone interview.
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