Since New Jersey regulated online gaming in 2013, players have had a limited number of options to choose from when it came to online poker. This week they got another option, with the launch of PalaPoker.com, the latest from Pala Interactive, the California-based online gaming company run by the Pala Band of Mission Indians.

If you haven’t heard, PokerStarsand New Jersey have been an ongoing soap opera in the online poker industry. One minute it looks like PokerStars is not going to be permitted entry into the market, the next minute everything looks rosy, then a minute later they are back on the outs.

On Friday, PocketFives had the opportunity to sit down with Pala Interactive CEO Jim Ryan (pictured), who formerly held the same position at Excapsa and bwin.party. Ryan’s newest venture has made inroads into the regulated New Jersey gaming market via an online casino and comes with a unique perspective on the future of our industry.

According to an interview with Online Poker Report, Pala Interactive CEO Jim Ryan (pictured), formerly the head of the UltimateBet-linked Excapsa, reinforced that he had no involvement in the cheating scandal that plagued that online poker room and was instead looking forward to bringing Pala to New Jersey.

New Jersey gambling regulators have granted conditional approval for California’s Pala Band of Mission Indians to operate an online gambling website through a partnership with Borgatain Atlantic City. The agreement will make Pala the first Indian tribe to offer i-gaming in the state.