WPN Beats Tactical Withdrawal From Regulated US Poker Markets

Following in the footsteps of the Merge Network, which exited the regulated markets of Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey in January 2014, the Winning Poker Network has now also decided to withdraw from the three states, with a statement from the US-friendly network, explaining:
“Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey have stepped up to allow their respective residents to play on licensed, local state poker sites. Accordingly, the Winning Poker Network has determined to decline offering services to residents seeking to play from those three states which have expressly legalized online poker, effective immediately.”
The Winning Poker Network is currently the third largest unlicensed poker network serving the US market, behind the Merge Network, and top of the list Bodog/Bovada. Consequently, WPN’s exit from the three states took many US players by surprise, especially as the network has benefited massively since PokerStars, Full Tilt and UltimateBet were forced from the US in 2011, even stating its intention to become the best internet poker destination for Americans, regardless of legality issues existing within the USA’s individual states.
Naturally, the poker community has been trying to explain WPN’s decision to exit Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, with one possibility being the business wanting to avoid potential litigation from the US government in the future. In addition, others have seen the move as a tactical retreat acknowledging the hurdles it would face trying to compete within those states’ regulated, licensed operators.
In spite of WPN’s announcement, however, it would appear some US players located within Nevada are still able to access WPN skins, such as Jen Newell, who posted his successful experience via Twitter. Furthermore, PocketFives member Steve Brogan has alleged that Black Chip Poker even proposed altering the address on his database to read California, instead of his current address of Nevada, thus enabling him to bypass the proposed directive. As  Brogan’s PocketFives post, reads:
“I just received a call from Customer Support at BlackChipPoker (BCP) giving me the update. The company sent out the email because they felt that they had to. But I was told not to worry. This would affect only new players from Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. I was told that I could continue to play, to deposit and to withdraw. They said that they were going to change the state that I reside in for California for me so that my account will still be active and that I should no longer be concerned.”