ider Amaya Gaming Group expects to launch its PokerStars brand in New Jersey in the third quarter of 2015, according to its CEO David Baazov.

Stars began the process to enter the New Jersey market by partnering with Atlantic City casino Resorts Casino Hotel in 2013.

But the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) decided to hold the application in a suspended status for two years unless circumstances “significantly changed”, due to the unresolved 2011 federal indictment against Stars founder Isai Scheinberg for allegedly violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and the Illegal Gambling Business Act.

When asked about entering New Jersey at a conference call, Baazov said: “As it relates to New Jersey I would say that we feel that this is coming.

“We would expect to receive [approval] and launch in the next quarter.”

Amaya later confirmed to Online Poker Report that Baazov was referring to the third quarter of this year.

Having purchased PokerStars’ former parent company Rational Group in a $4.9bn deal in August, the process resumed when Amaya filed a petition with the DGE for a transactional waiver to conduct online gambling operations.