Report: Amaya Gaming Exec Paul Leggett Steps Down

Paul Leggett, the vice president of online for Amaya Gaming Group Inc., has stepped down in order to supposedly expedite the firm’s approval for New Jersey online gambling, according to USPoker.com.

Leggett was once the chief operating officer of Tokwiro Enterprises, which owned both UB and Absolute Poker, two sites that were targets of a federal investigation that eventually came to be known as Black Friday. Both sites are now defunct and left former players empty-handed.

Both UB and Absolute Poker also took bets from Americans after the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which gaming regulators in the U.S., especially in Nevada, view as highly problematic. Some firms left the U.S. after that law, while others stayed.

He was also involved with conducting UB’s own investigation into cheating taking place on the software, a resolution to the horrible scandal that never satisfied the poker community.

Leggett’s time at Amaya was brief, as he assumed his VP role earlier this year.

Leggett’s departure reportedly was voluntary, and presumably precautionary.

According to USPoker.com, an internal e-mail sent by David Baazov, CEO of Amaya, confirmed Leggett’s departure from the company. “Paul is a consummate professional and has done an incredible job at Amaya,” Baazov said. “He has led the integration of the online businesses, developed our strategies for technology and product, signed key deals and has put our online business on the path forward to greater things. He will be sorely missed.”

The Montreal-based Amaya looks to be a big player in the regulated New Jersey market. The firm has already partnered with the Golden Nugget for online gambling.

“Amaya provides proven online casino games and a poker platform that deliver precisely what we need,” the Golden Nugget said in a statement. “Through this partnership we can supply exceptional and secure online entertainment, supported by the strong brand of our land-based casinos.”

The firm provides table game, poker, sports betting, lottery and slot machine products. Some of the top I-gaming operators, including Bwin.Party, use content from Amaya’s Internet platforms. The firm has offices in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Amaya is also the owner of the Ongame Poker Network.

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