Chili signs Golden Nugget deal

US casino chain Golden Nugget has signed a deal with French gaming firm Chiligaming to launch a free-play poker site in Q2 2012.

Chiligaming has been named as Golden Nugget's 'exclusive online gaming partner in anticipation of the legalization of online gaming in the United States'.

Chiligaming, which operates real-money poker sites in the European and French markets, launched its proprietary freeplay poker platform in the US market last year, but this is the first deal to be announced.

Chiligaming said its igaming platform, which can link up with other poker software solutions, is designed to 'both facilitate swift entry into the market'.

Chiligaming added it would 'maximize options for the Golden Nugget as the US regulatory and vendor landscape takes shape'.

'Chiligaming is thrilled to partner with Golden Nugget, which has a very strong brand presence across the US,' Alexandre Dreyfus, Chiligaming's CEO, said.

'With its Las Vegas, Laughlin and Atlantic City properties, it is ideally and uniquely positioned for all of the online developments that lie ahead.'

Golden Nugget's Chairman and Owner, Tilman J. Fertitta said they selected Chiligaming after a nine month search where they looked at more than a dozen internet gaming companies.

'We believe that online gaming is inevitable in the United States and that the Golden Nugget will be well positioned to compete when US laws allow for online gaming,' Fertitta said.