How Would PokerStars Impact New Jersey's iPoker Market?

Following Amaya Gaming’s acquisition of the Rational Group on August 1st and the subsequent stepping down of the Scheinburg’s and other founders from the company, the stage now seems set for a return of PokerStars stateside, and more specifically to New Jersey’s regulated iGaming market. Few industry experts or legislators are in doubt that having the world’s most popular poker site operating in NJ will have a positive affect on the industry, and as State Senator Raymond Lesniak, explains:
“I think PokerStars gaining approval would be the best thing to happen to the New Jersey Internet gaming industry, the biggest possible boost, because PokerStars has shown to be the biggest and the best online poker site.”
Trying to predict exactly how much of an impact PokerStars will have is difficult, but a recent article by Robert DellaFave in onlinepokerreport.com asserts that the Spanish iPoker market could provide a meaningful comparison.
Presently, New Jersey’s cash game landscape is dominated by PartyPoker and WSOP which enjoy a 41.1% and 38.7%,market share respectively, with AAPN (us.888poker.com) in 3rd place on 20.2%. After PokerStars launches, however, the market could resemble that of Spain in which PokerStars dominates with a 71.3% of the cash game market, although the whole process may take some time as, unlike Spain, PokerStars will be entering a market already populated by online gaming operators.
DellaFave then forecasts cash game traffic in NJ could subsequently rise from its current figure of around 330+ players online over a seven-day-period to up to 800 players, but the site’s impact on tournament traffic is expected to be even more profound. Instead of a 2.5 increase in traffic, tournaments could see a fourfold increase from its current level of 2,500 players to around 10,000 people, as players are drawn to PokerStars’ renowned tournament schedules.
New Jersey players could also expect to be offered an attractive 100% deposit welcome packages up to €500, as seen in the Spanish iPoker market, but in New Jersey that offer could initially reach as much as $1,000 as PokerStars tries to develop the market. However, bouses are likely settle back to normal levels in time, and as  DellaFave, explains:
“I wouldn’t expect much after the initial rollout period. PokerStars.es thrives not necessarily on needing to launch the promotional equivalent of fire sales, much like 888 does in New Jersey, but instead it relies on building long-term loyalty through its poker product, stellar VIP rewards program, carefully constructed tournament schedule, and exemplary customer service.”