NY Times says land-based casinos betting on online gambling

[The Buzz]

The New York Times ran a piece in its Sunday edition about the American Gaming Association's stance on Internet gambling in the United States. The AGA, which represents major casino giants like Harrah’s Entertainment, MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts, says it is helping to craft legislation on how to regulate online gambling in the U.S.

From the NY Times:

The group, the American Gaming Association, issued a statement in the spring suggesting that online gambling could be properly regulated — the first public indication that its hard-line stance was softening.

The chief executive, Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., said in an interview by phone that the association had not settled on the details of its proposed legislation, including how the proceeds from Internet gambling would be taxed. “We have been working on something,” he said, “and continue to work on it.”

Gambling specialists said it was likely that any casino-supported legalization would be limited to Internet poker because it was considered the least threatening to brick-and-mortar casinos. Internet poker already had the backing of some in the casino industry, and was seen as a new and lucrative source of revenue for the casino companies.

[AdrienneJay]

I can't see something wrong if the land based casino is helping on pushing online gambling regulation in the US considering their on the same line of business.

[Anthony]

All the land base operators have their eye on the online gambling market.

I don't believe it will be limited to just poker.

[universal4]

That also means that they will lobby heavily to have the rules written to favor them and favor them ONLY!

And that also means it will turn into another corrupt sector that "certain" congressmen will benefit financially....all under the table of course and difficult to prove...

There will also be an increase in shell companies etc that will run hi-priced "studies" to study the market etc, when in reality all they have to do is talk to affiliates, current online operators, and the governments that already have laws in place.

How many representatives will need to go on "fact finding tours" ?

Rick
Universal4

[davenewgates]

Well, their on the same roof in the industry. And maybe they saw that online gambling is getting higher and higher in the marketing industry and they saw a possibility in diverting their land based casino into an online casino in the future.

[JoeAdams]

Well, there must be something behind that betting of actual casino into online casino.

[andreea]

I'm finding it hard to believe that not more people are speculating about the fact that the long wait period isn't a clear indication of the government propelling the brick n mortar casinos into the online world.

It's in their every interest to have Harrah's and MGM take over the online industry in the US in that 15 month lapse/blackout period since they're all nice, tax paying clientele who've already brought in so much goodness to the US government. Look at the opposite spectrum, the people running online poker in the US at the moment are the ones they've been trying to find due punishment for in regards to all the lost taxes undergone.

Their strategy here seems pretty clear.

[Menofsnow]

I shouldn't imagine it is good for US facing affiliates if the US land-based Casinos are allowed to operate online casinos.

Everybody who has ever signed up to a Vegas casino loyalty list or booked into a Vegas hotel will get Direct mail and emails. This correspondence will offer the ultimate in loyalty - combining peoples land-based loyalty points with their online loyalty points, thus offering some serious land-based incentives (entirely free hotels, flights etc) for online play...

[sgc]

LV casinos desire to take over online gambling, that's why US banned casinos online - just to give LV time to prepare online launch