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Spotlight Archive
Trump Casinos: the Art of the Comeback? 10/4/2007 (Wayne Parry, AP) ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — For months, a tusk on one of the elephants outside the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort was missing, probably snapped off by a vandal. It was one small repair on a long list of things Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. had to do to spruce up its three casinos in the battle against a growing list of better-financed, newer, flashier casinos changing the face of Atlantic City. Now the tusk is glued back on — a symbol that the company realizes that the small things are just as important as the big ones when it comes to succeeding in the new Atlantic City. "You have a lot of competition to Atlantic City now, which it's never had before," said company chairman Donald Trump. "Now it's really a question of marketing and running (the Trump casinos) beautifully." The company faces stiff headwinds — more than $1.5 billion in debt, better-financed competitors with a big head start on offering the kind of Las Vegas-style resort appeal that Atlantic City has only recently embraced, and at least two deep-pocketed companies who will open new casinos within four years.  Read More
Web entrepreneur gambles on legality of betting site 10/4/2007 (Mike Lewis, Seattle Post) A local betting Web site entrepreneur faces possible extradition to Louisiana after authorities there charged the Seattle man with running an illegal gambling operation. Nick Jenkins said he is awaiting Gov. Chris Gregoire's decision on whether or not to sign the extradition release requested by Louisiana prosecutors, who say Jenkins' now-defunct site, Betcha.com, violated federal and state laws against Internet-based gambling. Jenkins, whose Seattle-based startup was raided by Washington State Gambling Commission investigators in early July, said his attorneys are trying to negotiate with the Governor's Office to delay any move until his Washington state case is heard. A status hearing on the case and possible Louisiana charges is scheduled for Wednesday morning. "Obviously, we think this is unfair, and we're hopeful we can get this resolved," said Jenkins, 38, who faces extradition along with two other Betcha.com owners. "We think our case is a good one." Read More
Macaus thriving Gambling Industry 3/2/2007 (Misha Gleny, BBC News Macau) Gambling may be outlawed in most of China but the one place the Chinese can go for a wager is a former Portuguese territory in the south of the country. I cannot quite remember whether it was the Vino Tinto - perhaps you know the sort, slightly gruff and moody but heart-warming nonetheless. Or maybe it was the outrageously sensuous and fickly-named Serradura, a pudding so seductive it would have broken laws in any other incarnation. Either way I finished my meal at La Lorcha with the conclusion that if you are looking for an authentic culinary experience that hits every spot in the stomach and still has pretensions to being healthy, it has to be Portuguese. After supper, I walked through the Avenidas and Estradas past the Dom Pedro V Theatre and the various monasteries while catching, I thought, a slight hint of southern Europe's perfumed air. And then I saw the egg - an electronic egg. No, an electronic Faberge egg. Read More
Internet wagering may be key to sports gambling future 2/22/2007 (Curtis Stock, Canada.com) When it comes to betting on sports, it seems the gambling industry has left no stone unturned. There are government-sanctioned Sport Select kiosks in virtually every corner store, casinos in every corner of the city and chances to bet on just about any horse race in the world at Edmonton Northlands. There are illegal book-makers more than willing to cater to the sports-betting junkie's whims. And then, of course, there's the Internet, where bettors can wager on any sport at any time. So with this kind of saturation, what more -- or less -- can the future bring? The opinions of gambling researchers, industry insiders and government officials vary, although most believe that sorting out issues related to Internet wagering holds the key to determining which direction sports gambling ultimately heads. Fuelled by the online-poker craze and betting on sports events, Internet gambling sites have seen revenues explode to an estimated $15 billion in the past year alone. Read More
AOL Bets on Poker 10/19/2005 (Michael Friedman, Pokernews.com) AOL, the nation's leading online service, has decided that conquering the online universe is a doable reality, as it continues to expand its services to provide live music concerts, sports action, and now, online gaming. AOL has signed an exclusive deal with the World Series of Poker to create an online poker environment for card players. AOL's poker action is free and will offer 12 winners in the different online AOL private poker rooms and tournaments a seat to play in the 2006 or 2007 WSOP main event. Valued at $10,000, the WSOP seats are AOL's way of making an enticing offer to get players to its new site. If that's not enough to get players interested, one visitor to the poker room each year will get a free seat at the annual tournament of champions. Only one thing stopping players from winning these amazing prizes; they have to be at least 21 years old. Broadcast exclusively by ESPN and held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, the WSOP is the pinnacle of the poker world with players of its main event vying for more than $52 million in prizes. According to Harrah's Entertainment programming head, Jeffery Pollack, this unique relationship is a perfect fit. The AOL service will provide news and behind-the-scenes reports of the various tournaments as well as "poker tutorials for people who want to learn more about the game." Read More
Could Pill Break Gambling Addiction 10/27/2005 (TheBostonChannel.com) OMAHA, Neb. -- A pill for gambling addiction? University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers have plastered radio and newspaper ads around the Omaha metro looking for volunteers to test a drug thought to curb the propensity to gamble. "Generally, we're looking for people who have gambled once in the last month, and three times in the last three months," said clinical psychologist Dennis McNeilly. McNeilly said gamblers who volunteer for the study will take a drug known as nalmefene. "It's a medication that blocks the pleasure receptors in the brain," McNeilly said. The drug has proved effective in treating alcoholism by decreasing cravings. But can it help a gambling addiction? "We're optimistic that it's going to be very helpful," McNeilly said. Read More
Casino exec suggests online gambling plan 5/5/2003 (By Las Vegas Review-Journal) Las Vegas casino executive urged Congress to regulate rather than prohibit Internet gambling. William Hornbuckle, president and chief operating officer of MGM Mirage, criticized a bill by Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, that seeks to ban Internet gambling by outlawing the use of credit cards, wire transfers or any other bank instruments to pay for online bets. (The Leach bill) will do nothing to protect (Internet gambling) consumers, Hornbuckle told the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security. By eliminating all regulating by credible financial institutions, you have encouraged an e-commerce market that is ripe for money laundering, Hornbuckle said. Leach, who also appeared at Tuesday's hearing, disputed Hornbuckle's claim. When they say there is no consumer protection, the ultimate consumer protection is when the consumer will not have to pay Internet gambling debts if he cannot use the financial instruments, Leach said. MGM Mirage has been perhaps the most aggressive brick-and-mortar casino to explore the Internet gambling market. After receiving an online gaming license from the Isle of Man in September, MGM Mirage has collected Internet bets from 10 countries. Read More
Lawmakers Take Another Look at Net Gambling 5/29/2003 (Fox News, By Lisa Porteus) WASHINGTON — Internet gambling has taken the betting world by storm, but efforts are underway on Capitol Hill to put an end to online gaming. Lawmakers are crafting various measures that would make it illegal to use credit cards or electronic funds transfers to pay for gaming activities, and are hoping that banning revenue exchanges will cut the bloodlines to the Net gaming industry. "There's a good chance it could go somewhere this year but it has the same problems it's had in the past, and that's that no one really wants to get rid of all Internet gambling," said Dan Walsh, a Washington lobbyist for the Interactive Gaming Council (search). "I don't think there are many members of Congress who get up in the morning and worry about an adult waking up and once a week betting $50 on a hand of blackjack," he added. Those who oppose Internet gambling say it encourages minors to bet, increases the likelihood of credit-card fraud, contributes to addiction and poses jurisdictional snares. Some critics also say offshore gambling sites could be used for money laundering and could support terrorists or other criminals. "The very nature of gambling, with its great potential for fraud and corruption, demand that it be regulated as it now is in all jurisdictions," Rep. Spencer Bachus (search), R-Ala., said in an e-mail to Foxnews.com. "Cyber gambling is the crack cocaine of gambling and will create a new generation of addicts unless we stop it." Gaming supporters denounce these arguments and claim gamblers will find ways around the law. If properly regulated, they argue, the flourishing industry can become more transparent and the money trail can be more easily followed while providing states with much-needed revenue. "I think it's very dangerous to start regulating and prohibiting activities on the Internet that are not, per say, illegal in the bricks and mortar world," said Jeff Modisett, a consultant and former attorney general of Indiana. If a ban passes, "this would be the first time that Congress, outside of the area of pornography, has tried to regulate the Internet," said Dan Spiegel, a lawyer with Washington law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, which represents online gaming company Virtual Holdings (search). Read More
Analyst: Internet ban is likely 1/13/2003 (by Liz Benston, Las Vegas Sun) A federal ban on Internet gambling is likely to pass this year after years of online gaming opponents trying and failing to push through a prohibition bill in Congress, a top Internet gambling analyst told a group of casino insiders Friday. "Unless the industry speaks with one voice, prohibition will become a reality," Sebastian Sinclair, president of Christiansen Capital Advisors, said during the American Gaming Summit. The announcement followed last week's reintroduction of a bill by Rep. James Leach, R-Iowa, to outlaw Web casinos by making it a crime to accept credit cards, checks and wire transfers for Internet bets. A similar bill passed the House but failed in the Senate last year. Past versions of prohibition bills created exceptions for certain industries that created an "unholy alliance" among lotteries, racetracks and credit card companies, Sinclair said. An all-out ban that removes those exceptions will appeal to a growing number of gambling foes who are likely to mobilize an attack on Internet gambling following a recent court decision that favored the industry, he said. Read More
Net gambling bill fans e-cash fears 1/24/2002 (MSNBC.com) After seven years of trying, lawmakers are widely expected to crack down on illegal Internet gambling during the current session of Congress. But in doing so, some observers say, they could breathe life into a greater menace than the one they are trying to strangle — an untraceable form of electronic cash that could undermine the ability of governments to tax their citizens and trace the flow of money around the globe. CONCERN ABOUT THE possible unintended consequences of anti-gambling legislation comes amid signs that Congress is serious about putting the brakes on the rapidly growing online wagering industry. With both houses of Congress now under Republican control, most legislative handicappers say chances are better than 50-50 that a bill will land on President Bush’s desk before the end of the current session. The legislation considered most likely to win approval aims to knock the financial legs out from under the offshore betting Web sites by prohibiting Americans from using credit cards or other financial instruments — electronic fund transfers, wire transfers, checks, money orders and the like — for Internet wagering. That has gambling site operators scrambling for other means that can’t be easily blocked, such as digital e-cash, that will allow them continued access to their biggest market, the United States. “We’re going to try to survive as an industry,” said Jessica Davis, vice president at the Antigua-based BetWWTS.com. “We always are trying to be a step ahead and we will do whatever we have to do and use whatever means necessary to allow our clients to remain active.” Read More
Odds against Net gambling ban 7/3/2002 (By Reuters via CNET.com) A congressional attempt to ban Internet gambling faces long odds of passage, handicappers say, as the clock winds down on the legislative year and interest groups continue to register their opposition. Online casinos have proliferated in recent years, raking in billions of dollars from Internet users across the globe and raising fears that they could encourage compulsive gambling and undermine local regulations. But despite attempts reaching back to 1995, Congress has been unable to pass a law that would undercut the unregulated, offshore Web casinos that stand to take in between $4.2 billion and $6.4 billion next year, according to estimates. Any proposed ban has had to thread its way through the thicket of legalized gambling groups, including horse tracks, casinos and state lotteries, that fear a ban could upset existing operations or derail possible plans to set up Web sites of their own. In the U.S. House of Representatives, two bills are awaiting a vote on the House floor, but observers say neither is likely to be called up anytime soon. In the U.S. Senate, Jon Kyl. R-Ariz., has pushed anti-gambling measures in past sessions but has not introduced a bill this year. House Republican leaders, preoccupied with President Bush's proposed Department of Homeland Security, are reluctant to take up the issue before the August break. "As of right now, we don't have those issues scheduled," said Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., who as chair of the Rules Committee prepares bills for votes on the House floor. Too many interests Dreier's committee would have to harmonize two separate but compatible efforts. One bill, which won approval from the House Financial Services Committee last fall, would prevent credit card companies and other financial-services companies from transferring money to Internet gambling operations. A bill from Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, was initially opposed by credit card issuers when it was introduced last year, but in recent months many companies have taken to blocking gambling payments on their own. The move is expected to slow gambling growth by as much as half next year, according to a recent analysis from brokerage firm Bear Stearns. Another bill, which narrowly passed the Judiciary Committee last week, would update a 40-year-old law that bans interstate wagers so that it would clearly apply to the Internet. Sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., it would enable law-enforcement agents to take down gambling sites and banner ads and stop credit card payments as well. Goodlatte's bill attracted opposition early on from an array of gambling interests. Horse-racing groups worried that it would outlaw off-track betting, while casinos feared that it would derail future efforts to offer regulated, state-approved online casinos. The legislator modified his bill to avoid such practices, only to face charges from dog-track operators that the new version favored horse racing and was not strong enough. After a lengthy, contentious debate, opponents in the Judiciary Committee eventually stripped the bill of Goodlatte's modifications, prompting gambling groups to withdraw their support. Read More
NJ Looking Again at Legal Online Gambling 8/8/2002 (By TERESA M. MCALEAVY, NewJersey.com) While the US Federal government continues toying with an outright ban on internet gaming, millions of dollars continue to leave the country, ending up in the pockets of offshore operators. Enter New Jersey governor McGreevey, who's taking a look at legal, regulated online betting in one of North America's gambling hotbeds. Some are calling for an end to ignorance on the issue, worried that further delay could put them behind rivals in Nevada, a state that has already legislated legal online gambling, pending appoved methods of regulating the industry and keeping minors away. Assemblyman Anthony Impreveduto, having already championed this cause in his home state, argues that regulation is necessary because online gambling already is available. His bill calls for allowing interested Atlantic City casinos to offer virtual betting via computers located on casino floors. That, he believes, would allow the current state Casino Control Act to govern the industry. Read More
Internet Gamblers Have More Problematic Betting Habits 3/25/2002 (Scientific American) For some gamblers, lady luck beckons not from the casino, lottery booth or racetrack, but from the Internet. Though this subset of betters is relatively small, the results of a study published in the March issue of Psychology and Addictive Behaviors, a journal of the American Psychological Association, suggests that they have more serious habits than do other gamblers. The findings come from an analysis of the gambling behaviors of 389 individuals who sought free or reduced-cost dental or health care at the University of Connecticut's health clinics. George T. Ladd and Nancy M. Petry of the university's health center, who conducted the research, obtained their data from questionnaires. They found that all respondents had gambled at some point in their lives, and some 70 percent had tempted fortune in the past two months. Nearly 11 percent, the researchers found, met the criteria for problem gamblers; more than 15 percent for pathological gamblers. Only 8 percent reported gambling online, but of these, three fourths exhibited problematic or pathological habits. Among the non-Internet betters, in contrast, only 22 percent showed indications of such serious gambling problems. Read More
Californian Internet gambling bill worse than Prohibition 3/4/2002 (OnlineCasinoNews.com) ‘The California State Assembly has voted 61-2 on a bill to reinstate Prohibition,’ says I. Nelson Rose. The last time the USA had Prohibition, 1919 to 1930, it was prohibiting “intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes.” This time, California, like many others States and the Bush administration itself, is going for gambling on the Internet. The California law would actually go further that the old Prohibition. That only attacked the business end of the booze trade. The bill now pending before the California Senate would not only make it a crime to do business in Internet gambling, it also makes bettors a target for prosecution. Any operator who “causes to be opened,” or “offers for play,” any online gambling game is guilty of a misdemeanour. An operator (or anyone who helps them,) could face up to 90 days in jail and there is a fine of $1,000 per transaction. Even having the Internet server in the state is illegal. The bill, AB 1229, also criminalizes ordinary bettors. “Every person who plays or bets at or against any prohibited online gambling game for money… while that person is physically located within this state,” would be guilty of an infraction and fined up to $25 per transaction. Even if the operator is licensed by a foreign government, which many are. Read More
Gambling Thriving In Weak Economy 12/26/2001 (AP via RGTOnline) ILLINOIS – “There appears to be at least one sure bet in the current economic downturn: People will keep gambling. ”Despite hard times elsewhere, local casinos and the Illinois lottery are raking in money hand over fist. ”Through November, Illinois casinos earned $93 million more than during the same time last year, an increase of 6 percent. ”…A five-year drop in state lottery sales appears to be over, with $621 million in ticket sales in five months. The lottery is expected to reverse the downward trend, which began after sales peaked at $1.6 billion in 1996. ”Industry observers say bad economic news apparently makes some people even ”…The increased casino revenue comes despite fewer customers: Although admissions to Illinois casinos are down 3 percent this year, customers are spending an average $8 more per visit. Read More
Expert: Gambling Problems Touch All Populations 12/13/2001 (Green Bay Press Gazette via RGTOnline.com) WISCONSIN – As reported by the Green Bay Press-Gazette: “The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling does not keep data on how many Oneidas have gambling problems, said Rose Gruber, executive director of the group. But plans to keep statistics on how gambling affects various age and ethnic groups are in the works. ”`The entire population is affected. We’ve seen it across the board both nationally and locally,’ Gruber said. `So it would be unfair to single out Oneidas.’ ”`But data shows that about 5 to 7 percent of people (nationwide) or about 265,000 people would have some type of problem with gambling,’ she said. Read More
Observance of tragedy planned by casinos 9/19/2001 (By David Strow, Las Vegas Sun) One of the Strip's largest casino operators will dim the outdoor lights at its Las Vegas casinos tonight, while a second was to halt operations on its casino floor for one minute at midday today. The plans by Park Place Entertainment Corp. and MGM MIRAGE are in observance of today's national day of remembrance in honor of the victims of Tuesday's terrorist strikes in New York and Washington. Park Place will turn off all non-essential exterior lights at its 20 U.S. casinos at sunset, and has invited its seven international casinos to do the same. The lights will remain off until sunrise. On the Strip, lights will be extinguished at Caesars Palace, Bally's Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Hilton and the Flamingo Las Vegas. "The lights of Las Vegas have always stood for happy times," said Park Place spokeswoman Debbie Munch. "It's important that they're off (tonight)." Park Place properties in Las Vegas have been displaying "One Nation Under God" on their digital marquees for the last several days, and that will continue tonight. Individual Park Place properties are also making additional observances. At Caesars Palace, a 30-foot-by-60-foot American flag was scheduled to be hung on the south side of the distinctive Palace Tower early this morning. And Bally's and Paris Las Vegas will hold 10-minute, non-denominational memorial services today; Paris Las Vegas at 11 a.m., Bally's at 1 p.m. Both will be open to employees, hotel guests and the public, said Bally's/Paris Las Vegas spokesman Andy Maiden. Read More
Las Vegas meets the Internet 9/19/2001 (RGTOnline) Las Vegas and the Internet This is your invitation to participate in shaping the future of interactive gaming. The Interactive Gaming Expo & Conference is being held to advance, enhance and expedite the implementation of interactive gaming by licensed Nevada companies. For the first time, those who are eligible to apply for the new Interactive Gaming license will come together with the technology companies who have the capability to make their plans a reality -- along with the public policy makers who will see that it occurs in a well thought-out manner. Senior management from Nevada and around the world will gather in Las Vegas September 26-28. Join us and gain a thorough understanding of how and when this promising new form of gaming will get underway -- and how you can profit from it. Read More
Six (More) Truths About Online Gambling 7/16/2001 (by Grant Eastbourne, WINNERonline.com) Last week, we looked at five common misconceptions about online gambling and set the record straight. This week, we look at six more, and it seems that there are a lot more gray areas. 1. Online gambling is illegal. - True (and False). It's illegal to run an online casino in the U.S. and Canada. There are also a few states, including Nevada, which have passed special laws making it a crime to make or accept a bet on the Internet. As of last week, it was also illegal for Australians to bet at an Australian Internet casino. But they can still bet at overseas casino sites. That said, the majority of states and provinces do not have laws that prohibit online wagering so most players don't have much to worry about. 2. I can go to jail for playing online. - (Probably) False. Online gambling exists in a bit of a gray area right now, whether the authorities are willing to admit it or not. The Canadian and American governments consider online gambling illegal, but there is no current legislation that would send a player to jail. That's good to know when you consider that more than two-thirds of online gamblers are from Canada and the U.S. California recently introduced legislation that prohibits residents of the state from gambling online. Violators will be subject to fines ranging from $25 to $100, assuming they get caught and convicted. We'll just have to wait and see whether federal politicians introduce other online gambling laws. 3. I have to pay taxes even though my winnings are from an offshore casino. - (Probably) True. But then you put yourself in a position of admitting to illegal activities. A player named Moosed from Hawaii found himself in exactly that boat when InterCasino announced that he had won their progressive jackpot. Now the cops in Hawaii want to talk to him. Casinos are not required to, and do not, report their players' winnings to any government body. But you run the risk of income tax evasion charges if you ever get audited and can't explain your winnings. The best thing to do is declare your online winnings as regular gambling winnings, and leave it at that. Better safe than sorry when it comes to the IRS. 4. The odds are worse at online casinos, compared to brick-and-mortar casinos. - (Probably) False. That's a tough one to answer so we asked Michael Shackleford, The Wizard of Odds, for his expert opinion. According to The Wizard, the only thing that really makes a difference between online and brick-and-mortar casinos is the rules. "If an online casino and a b+m casino have the same rules, then the odds of winning would be the same. You could also look at the issue of who has the better rules. In general the real casinos are better but there are many exceptions." So there you go. Read More
Five Truths About Online Gambling 7/12/2001 (by Grant Eastbourne, WINNERonline.com) We've put together a list of the most common misconceptions about online gambling and are setting the record straight for each one. But as you'll see, not everything is black and white in the world of Net betting. 1. Online gambling isn't random. - False. Online casinos use random number generators (RNGs) for all games. The RNGs are (usually) software programs that use mathematical formulas to regulate which card is dealt, where the ball drops for roulette, and where the wheel stops in slots. The number that causes a certain action has no relation to the number that came before it or the number that will come after it. RNGs can be changed to alter the payout percentages in slots machines, but that's up to the discretion of the casino. 2. I'll lose my money if my computer freezes. - False. The casino servers will attempt to complete a bet even if you accidentally go offline. If they can, the outcome of the bet will be in your account when you log back on. If the servers are unable to complete the bet, they will credit back the money you wagered for that bet. The worst that can happen is you'll be back where you started when you placed that particular bet. Not ideal, perhaps, but better than losing your money. 3. The odds are better in the play for free area. - (Possibly) True. Some lower-end casino operators may manipulate their free-play games to allow more wins. The thought behind this is that players will move over to the real-money games thinking they will continue to win big. Legitimate operators more than likely don't do that, however. We asked MicroGaming about this, and they assured us that they use the same random number generator for both the free-play and real-money games, and that the odds are the same for all games. 4. Someone can steal my credit card info if I give it out over the Internet. - False (and true). It is technically possible for someone to steal your credit card information while you're buying things online or depositing money at a casino. But, and that's a big but, the chances of that happening are pretty slim. The only way this can happen is if you're using a low-security browser or submitting information to a non-secure site. But you shouldn't be doing either of those things in the first place. Read More
Problem Gambling Gets Attention 6/21/2001 (RGTOnline News) SEATTLE, Washington –– As reported by the Columbian: ``With a national conference on problem gambling starting Thursday in Seattle, Gov. Gary Locke has declared this Problem Gambling Awareness Week in Washington state. ``Locke's office said the "largest gathering of problem gambling experts in the world" will meet Thursday through Saturday at the SeaTac Doubletree Hotel. ``…Over the course of a given year, the council says, about 2.5 million Americans "meet criteria for pathological gambling." ``…Gary Hanson, executive director of the Washington State Council on Problem Gambling, said while gambling has devastating consequences for some individuals and their families, there is good news. Read More
Net Gamblings Roller Coaster Ride 6/10/2001 (by Grant Eastbourne, WINNERonline.com) The past week has been a bit of a roller coaster ride in the world of online gambling, filled with a very significant high and a series of stomach-turning lows. On the positive side, Nevada has finally given its approval to Internet gambling. The decision comes after months of wrangling, votes, near-collapses of the motion, and a final triumphant vote on Monday. The governor is expected to sign the bill into law in the next few days, opening the door for Nevada to be the first U.S. state to offer legal Internet wagering. But there have also been a number of screaming drops that will make it more difficult to gamble online. The first low came in California, where the state assembly last week approved a bill that will make Internet wagering a crime for Californians. Online casino companies will also be held liable for offering their services to Californians. According to Assemblyman Dario Frommer, the bill's author, the legislation will allow state and local prosecutors to "go after offshore gaming interests and make sure they are not taking advantage of our residents here." The people of California must be thanking that someone is keeping them safe. Things also appear to be moving backwards in Oregon. State legislators last week approved a bill that is intended to curb online gambling by making it more difficult to collect gaming debts. The measure, which passed by a vote of 57-2, prohibits the collection of gambling debts through credit card payments, checks, or electronic fund transfers. The ban will likely have more of an effect on credit card companies than casinos, however. Credit providers will be reluctant to allow Oregonians to make casino charges the companies won't be able to collect on. The final piece of bad news comes from a credit card company. Discover Card has just announced that it will no longer be processing transactions from online gambling sites. (Visa and MasterCard pulled the plug on gambling charges earlier this year.) The decision comes on the heels of a lawsuit against Discover, launched by a player who racked up a $70,000 gambling debt. The man's lawyer argued that the company was responsible for allowing the man to rack up the bill, rather than blaming the man for spending money he didn't have. According to the lawyer, "The greater evil is the credit card companies trying to make money off of people gambling online." The reality of the situation, however, is that this was likely an attempt to avoid paying the debt. Online gambling just proved to be a handy scapegoat. Read More
Nevada lawmakers approve Internet gambling 6/5/2001 (By JOHN WILKERSON, AP) CARSON CITY, Nev -- Nevada lawmakers have approved a law that allows Internet gambling by casinos even though the Justice Department says Internet gambling is illegal. State officials say court challenges could change the federal government's position. Experts estimate that revenues from Internet gambling -- largely conducted by offshore companies because of the U.S. ban -- reached $1.5 billion last year and could reach $6 billion by 2003. To ensure Nevada's expansion into Internet gambling moves ahead smoothly, the state Gaming Control Board and state Gaming Commission must first draft and adopt rules governing such gambling. Those requirements would include assurances that minors wouldn't be able to play. Also the games couldn't be conducted from states that prohibit gambling. Some in New Jersey wanted to beat Nevada into cyberspace, but an Internet gambling bill introduced in the New Jersey legislature in January that would permit casinos in that state to offer blackjack, roulette, slot machines and other games over the Web is stuck in committee and unlikely to see action before upcoming summer break. In Nevada, AB466, which moved to Gov. Kenny Guinn for signature on a 17-4 state Senate vote Monday, began as a uniform statewide work card system for casino workers. The Internet gambling provisions were amended into the bill after an initial plan for such gambling died in the Senate. Proponents said the earlier version, AB578, was a victim of political maneuvering. Casino lobbyists -- in another of their numerous legislative successes this session -- followed up with more maneuvering to revive the idea. Opponents included Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, who said a $500,000, two-year licensing fee for Internet gambling makes it impossible for small casinos and entrepreneurs to participate. "What this is asking us to do is to legislatively sanction a monopoly for an exclusive few that has always prided itself on the competitive nature of the marketplace," Care said. Senate Judiciary Chairman Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said the $500,000 fee ensures that reputable companies undertake Internet gambling. Read More
Cybergambling Tip: Beware of Imposters 6/8/2001 (by Mark Balestra, eGamingWire.com via WinnerOnline.com) Things are not always what they appear to be ... particularly on the World Wide Web. And as we've learned over time, the anonymity that comes along with the Internet isn't all that it's cracked up to be. It's fairly well known that online gamblers are better off playing at high-profile sites operated by reputable gaming companies. Recognizable brands are always a plus, but keep in mind that brands are hijacked quite frequently on the Internet. If I wanted to set up an offshore online casino called "Caesars Palace" or "Harrah's" it's doubtful that anyone could stop me. I wouldn't fool everyone, but there's definitely a fair share of Internet users who would mistake bogus sites like this for the real deal. It's dirty and it seems ridiculous that it's so easy to get away with, but such fraudulent activity is not uncommon. This isn't so much an effort to scam players as it is a deceptive means of drawing traffic to sites, but fraud is fraud and such sites should obviously be avoided. The perpetrators use two tricks. One is to purchase a domain name that contains a brand name but isn't owned by the same operator that owns the brand. For example, if I owned a popular site called BalestraClub.com, anyone could easily set up a site at BalestraClubCasino.com or TheBalestraClub.com to divert traffic. They might even steal the graphics from my site to make it look identical to my casino. The second trick is to purchase "typo" domains. For example, an online casino located at the domains "www.CeasarsPalace.com" or "www.Harahs.com" could attract stray Web surfers who type carelessly. (In case this went over your head, the correct spellings are "Caesars" and "Harrah's.") So, what can you do to avoid these sites? Averting the second trick is no big secret: Be careful what you're typing and make sure you've got the right spelling. As far as avoiding the first trick goes, your best defense is to do some homework. Doing a "whois" search at NetworkSolutions.com to double check a site operator's identity might uncover a rat. The only problem is that I could easily register my look-alike URL under a bogus company name, so it's not a flawless solution. It would also be beneficial to read consumer publications from time to time to stay up on what's happening online--particularly publications that feature watchdog/consumer protection pieces. You might also want to consider that the gambling services that advertise on these consumer publications are less likely to be frauds. Reputable consumer publications don't accept advertising from such operators. Read More
Will Las Vegas Rule the Internet? 5/3/2001 (Spencer Andrews, OnlineCasino.com) Spencer, With all the online casino web-site popping up everywhere and Nevada is trying to legalize internet gambling. Do you think the US will legalize online gambling ? If they pass the law and legalize internet gambling and all the casinos in Las Vegas start their own online web-site. What do you think will happen to all the others unknown web-site that doesn't have a land base casino?? Thank you, Sam Sam, That's a good question, and one that is becoming more prevalent with each passing day, especially as of late. The legalization of online gambling in the United States is, perhaps, the most pressing issue facing the industry today. Because the vast majority of the world's online gamblers emanate from with U.S. borders, the issue of legalization will have a definite impact on its future. As you may know, Nevada is currently debating the merits of making Internet gambling legal. On Wednesday, April 24, the state Legislature voted 37-2 in favor of legalizing online gambling. The bill makes it legal for casinos to accept wagers from Nevada residents. But a $1 million licensing fee attached to the bill did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority required for passage. As a result, both bills were sent back to the legislature for second vote. On Thursday, they addressed the fee issue and reached a compromise that saw licensing fees drop from $1 million to $500,000 and taxes on the hardware required to start up and online casinos fall from 10 percent to 6.25 percent. But it must be approved by the State Senate and signed by the governor, Kenny Guinn. Additionally, the Nevada Gaming Commission must also establish licensing regulations for online casinos, and combined with all of the other delays, Nevada's first online casino could be two years away from setting up shop. No matter what the outcome in Nevada might be, the decision to make gambling over the Internet legal could be challenged because the federal government maintains that online gambling is illegal. With respect to how the entry of Nevada's land-based casinos into the Internet fray will affect the current crop of online operators, that remains to be seen. Casinos such as the MGM Grand will benefit from the branding their name has already earned from being a staple of Las Vegas' land-based casino ring for so many years. But the wonderful thing about the Internet, is that it affords, if not equal, then at least a fair opportunity for smaller start-up companies to challenge the big boys. In order for a "small guy" to set up shop and challenge the Mirage on the Vegas Strip, he would require hundreds of millions of dollars just to get his land-based casino off the ground and running. Read More
Nevada Approves Net Gambling 4/30/2001 (by Grant Eastbourne, WINNERonline.com) After two days of debate, Nevada legislators have reached a compromise and passed a bill that legalizes online gambling in the state. It wasn't exactly smooth sailing for the bill, however. On Wednesday, April 26 legislators passed AB296, which legalized online gambling, but failed to approve companion bill AB587, which outlined licensing fees for casinos and software providers. As a result of that failure, both bills were sent back to the assembly for a second vote. On Thursday, April 26 legislators addressed the fee issue and were able to reach a compromise that saw licensing fees drop from $1 million to $500,000 and taxes on the hardware necessary to launch online casinos drop from 10 percent to 6.25 percent. These decisions were primarily made to appease legislators from rural areas, who were concerned that their constituents would be shut out by high licensing fees. The assembly revisited the issue again today (Friday, April 27), and amended AB578 to incorporate Thursday's changes. The revised bill passed by a vote of 37-2, with three abstentions. Significantly, it includes many of the fundamental aspects of AB296, the original online gambling bill that was introduced by Merle Berman more than two months ago. Read More
Regulation needed for Internet gambling to succeed 1/15/2001 (By Lisa Snedeker, AP) Despite initial opposition, major U.S. gaming companies are considering establishing online casinos. But without changes in the law and effective regulations, gambling on the Internet won't be a hand played by traditional casino operators, industry executives say. Consistent regulatory standards, licensing and taxes are needed to make Internet gambling legitimate, industry analyst Marc Falcone, vice president of Bear Stearns, told those attending the two-day American Gaming Summit on Friday. Read More
CBS 60 Minutes Focuses on Net Gambling 1/10/2001 (by Chuck Greene, WINNERonline) This Sunday night CBS' 60 Minutes featured a segment on Internet gambling, focusing on the legal battles of Jay Cohen, founder of World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com), an online sportsbook. The segment, hosted by Morley Safer, portrayed World Sports Exchange as a legitimate offshore business run by former New York stock traders who find themselves at odds with outdated US law. Two years ago Cohen and his business partners at WSEX, Haden Ware and Steve Schillinger, were charged by the US government with taking sports wagers by phone and over the Internet, in violation of the Wire Act. Cohen returned to the US to stand trial and was convicted by a New York jury. He was fined $5,000 and sentenced to 21 months in prison. Read More
How Players Defraud Casinos 10/25/2000 (by Steve Adkins, Online Players Association) I am always writing or saying something about Bad Casinos and how they rip off the online gambler. I would be amiss if I did not cover the other end of the fraud claim. First, let me point out that there are more gamblers ripping off casinos then there are casinos ripping off customers. When a player goes into a casino and makes a purchase and then charges back their purchase, the casino cannot very well come into a message board and say "Mr. So and So ripped us off". But if that casino does anything that even appears to be unfair, players are quick to publish their opinions in message boards and news groups all over the Internet. It's an unfair disadvantage to the casino. The biggest fraud is committed when a player makes a purchase and then disputes this with their bank. Since there is no signature on file most banks give the customer the benefit of the doubt. But what does this do to the online gaming industry? I know of two OPA casinos that get over $80,000 back each month in chargebacks. $80,000! When this happens it is the honest player that suffers. First there is going to be less bonus money available -- when you have to write off that amount of money you have to cut corners somewhere. Second, when the honest player wins sometimes they are run through the ringer before they get paid. The casino has to do this to make sure you're not going to do a chargeback. Of course casinos do not trust online gamblers anymore than online gamblers trust the casinos. Read More
Death of the Download: Is Java Taking Over? 10/23/2000 (by Chuck Greene, WINNERonline.com) It's the first choice an online gambler makes when choosing a casino: whether to download casino software or surf to a no-download game, typically Java. But which option is better and which is more popular? A January poll of more than 1,000 Winneronline readers indicated that 61% preferred no-download games while 39% preferred the download variety. Word-of-mouth indicates that player preference may be evenly split. "Although there has been no empirical research into the popularity of Java, the market doesn't lie," says Mark Waters, Director of Business Development at GamblingSoftware.com. "Nielsen Net ratings recently did a survey of the top gambling-related sites, as measured by unique visitors. Three of the top five gaming sites are of Java technology. Two of the sites, Virtual Vegas and PlaceMyBet, are 100% Java." GamblingSoftware.com, which powers PlaceMyBet, is the leading supplier of Java games for the online casino market with more than 40 licensees using their product. Other companies providing instant play games include Unified Gaming, Chartwell Technology, Net Entertainment and newcomer Diamond Games. Read More
Gaming stocks beats all odds, outlook bright 9/12/2000 (On the Market/by Karin Price Mueller) While much of the market has spent the year struggling to stay on the plus-side, gaming stocks have outperformed most other industries. The Standard & Poor's index of Gaming, Lottery & Parimutuel Companies is up 29.1 percent year-to-date, with a gain of 10.4 percent in August alone. That compares to a gain of 4.7 percent for the S&P 500 so far this year, and a 6.5 percent rise in August. Even the new Las Vegas Investment Advisors Gaming Stock Index, which was launched on Aug. 1, gained 7.9 percent in the month. The outlook continues to be bright, says Steven Kent, a gaming and lodging analyst for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. ``Some of the regional jurisdictions like Missouri and Mississippi and some parts of the Midwest have done well as the local gaming authorities have become less restrictive,'' Kent says. ``At the same time in Las Vegas the level of convention activity has been higher, with Las Vegas becoming a conference center of choice.'' Kent says there's been some 18,000 new hotel rooms added in Las Vegas in the past 3 years, and nearly 40,000 in the past 10 years. Add that to new convention space, meeting rooms, restaurants and shopping, and he says Las Vegas can compete with cities like Chicago and San Francisco for corporate business. Merrill Lynch analyst David Anders says that despite the glut of new rooms, room prices keep rising, and demand remains robust, so the profitability of the casinos has improved this year. Read More
10 Sure Ways to Lose Money at Online Casinos! 9/27/2000 (by Max Drayman, WINNERonline.com) Got a big inheritance that's burning a hole in your pocket? Feeling embarrassed over your big jackpot win at Get Rich Here Casino? Or maybe you're just a shocking good thief and it's time to unload some of your hoarded wealth. Have we got the answer for you: 10 ways to lose it online, fast! Here's my fav: Sic Bo. It's a three-dice game similar to the very appropriately named Grand Hazard. Either way the game is a minefield of lousy bets. Like to give the house a 47.2% advantage? Then try the "totals" bet of 5 or 16. How about a specific pair at 33.3% to the house? The only halfways decent odds are "Small" or "Big" at a house edge of 2.7% but you'll have to look carefully to find that bet. If you like dice games, learn Craps. If it's the exotics that attract you, try betting on camel races. Another big waster of a game is Keno. The odds vary, but the house edge ranges from 25 to 29% depending on the number of picks, wins, etc. Aficionados will praise the "way" and "combination" bets, but they're talking about making the best of a bad thing. Read More
National experts discuss problem gambling 8/7/2000 (By Lisa Snedeker, AP) "Gambling was never my problem, life was my problem," said Carol O'Hare, a former compulsive gambler who is now the executive director for the not-for-profit Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. O'Hare was part of Monday's panel of experts that gathered in Las Vegas to address casino industry employees on how to spot problem gamblers. The panel was sponsored by the American Gaming Association. Millions of people who come to Las Vegas set a limit when it comes to gambling, said Punam Mathur, director of government and community affairs for MGM Mirage. "But we are fully aware there is a small segment of the American public that can't gamble responsibly," she added. That's why the casino industry trains its employees to let customers know there are treatment programs, Mother said. Read More
Officials Question Validity of U.S. Tribal Recognition 7/29/2000 (rgtonline.com) HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT -- July 28, 2000 As reported by The New York Times: Concerned that the federal government may soon recognize two more Indian tribes in Connecticut, two state officials said Thursday that they planned to convene dozens of state and city officials in September to discuss the legitimacy of the tribes' land claims and the validity of the recognition process. Thursday's announcement, made in a news conference by state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and the state Senate's majority leader, George C. Jepsen, is the latest in a weeks-long series of moves by elected officials troubled by recent indications from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs that it is poised to confer recognition on the two tribes within a matter of months. Calling the prospect of that recognition a `time bomb,’ Jepsen said, `There's a need in this state to bring elected and community officials together so that we can all get up to speed together on this enormously complex process and all the facts that go along with it.’ The officials' concern stems from the assumption that once recognized, the two Indian tribes under consideration -- the Eastern Pequots and the Paucatuck Eastern Pequots -- will do what the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes have already done: use their autonomy to build monumental casinos in hopes of making millions of dollars a year in gambling revenue. Many residents fear losing property to land claims, as well as traffic congestion and the social costs of legalized gambling. Read More
Israeli Wins Biggest Online Slot Machine Jackpot Ever 6/26/2000 (/PRNewswire/) LONDON -- The following was issued today by King Solomon's Online Casino: The biggest Online Casino Jackpot in Internet history was won by Sharon P. from Israel. Sharon cashed in US$171,975.53 on Saturday June 17th on a three dollar bet placed on the progressive slot machine ``Cashsplash'' at King Solomon's Online Casino. Internet casino gaming is one of the fastest growing online industries. Consumers have the opportunity to gamble from their homes, win money and participate in the generous financial bonuses offered on initial purchases by most online casinos. Due to its popularity more and more traditional, land-based casinos are making a move towards Internet gambling. Currently, there are about 500 Casinos on the Internet with various and often differing services. King Solomon's features include a Free Software Download, Promotional Offers, Loyalty Schemes as well as the ability to gamble for fun. A 24/7 call centre provides support in different languages. Read More
Doubts arise over limiting Internet gambling payments 6/22/2000 (By Laurence Arnold, ASSOCIATED PRESS) WASHINGTON -- In a new effort against Internet gambling, lawmakers are proposing to choke off the ability of online casinos to collect bets through the most common methods of transferring money: credit cards, checks or electronic funds transfers. The measure opens a second front in what is proving to be a tricky battle against Internet gambling, which has proliferated into a billion-dollar industry. Assistant Treasury Secretary Gregory Baer told the House Banking Committee on Tuesday that the proposal is an "innovative" approach to combating Internet gambling. But he cautioned that advances in electronic commerce could give the industry new methods to collect money. "Any legislation restricting how people are going to get paid in the future is going to be very difficult," Baer said. "We are seeing a revolution in payment in this country." Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, the committee chairman, said the bill would complement a separate measure, passed in the Senate and pending in the House, to extend to the Internet the current federal ban on gambling over the telephone. Read More
Betting at craps table on a roll can be a real scream 5/30/2000 (BY JOHN GROCHOWSKI, CHICAGO SUN TIMES) When a craps table is hot, there's no more raucous place in a casino. Most craps players tend to bet with the shooter, so they win together and lose together. That makes craps a more social game than, say, blackjack. A blackjack player who wins three or four hands in a row is pleased to see the chips multiply. Let a craps shooter roll three or four winners in a row, and the place is in an uproar. Beginners who decided to test out their new knowledge of the pass-line bet after reading about it here last week may have caught a glimpse of that. Maybe they found a table with a shooter on a roll, and the players cheering with every number. And maybe they didn't really feel a part of it yet. Read More
Study Examines Gambling Impact 5/4/2000 (By LAURENCE ARNOLD, Associated Press Writer) WASHINGTON (AP) - A central question in the national debate over legalized gambling - whether its economic benefits outweigh its social costs - cannot be answered with information currently available, according to a federal study released this week. Using Atlantic City, N.J., as its case study, the General Accounting Office found ample statistics on jobs created and taxes paid by the casino industry but little definitive information on the downside of gambling. ``While data on family problems, crime and suicide are available, tracking systems generally do not collect data on the causes of these incidents, so they cannot be linked to gambling,'' reported the GAO, the investigatory arm of Congress. Read More
Oh, the wages, and wagers, of sin 5/2/2000 (MSNBC.COM) A BAN ON college sports wagering ... give me a break. Gambling is so completely interwoven into our society that it would be practically un-American to ban it. Senator McCain doesn’t think that adults should be betting on college sporting events, and that’s his right, I suppose. As chairman of the Commerce Committee, he has to have something to do. But this is why McCain’s presidential bid was doomed to failure from the very start: He doesn’t understand the pax Romana even a tad. Had McCain been a senator during a different time in world history, he would have understood very clearly why the masses must be allowed their sinful diversions and that includes college sports. Bread and circuses,as the Romans called it. When Octavian rose to power in ancient Rome, becoming Caesar Augustus, he made sure of two things: that the people were kept fed, and entertained. This was his recipe for a long and powerful reign, and it worked. Read More
Ten tips that will help you walk away from casinos with more money in your pocket: 4/11/2000 (by Max Drayman, WINNERonline.com) Know Your Game Not all games are created equally. There is a wealth of information both on the net and in print to inform you of the odds you face in any given game and the strategies that will help shave the house edge to a minimum. Spend a little time reading and you'll spend a lot less time wondering what happened to your bankroll. Play To A Budget Let's say you've got $600 and you expect to gamble three times a week for the next couple weeks. That's $100 per session and that's your budget for any given session. Put the rest away, forget about it and enjoy the money you've got in front of you. DO NOT under any circumstances touch another day's bankroll. If you tap out, walk away and come back another day. This is how you remain a happy gambler and not a whining loser. Don't Gamble With Scared Money We've all heard and said it before: only gamble money that you can afford to lose. Read More
Give Me a Break: Govt. Says Gambling Is Terrible, Unless It’s Running the Game 4/4/2000 (By Dan Goren abcnews.com) Politicians today are worried about gambling. Several months ago the National Association of Attorneys General held a news conference to alert people to the dangers of mail-in sweepstakes. Some people have gone into debt and spent hundreds of dollars on magazines, thinking it would increase their chances to win. At the news conference, NAAG sent a strong message about the importance of protecting people from this type of sweepstakes gambling. These [mail-in] sweepstakes are basically gambling, Missouri Attorney General Mike Moore said. New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid agreed, saying, We must stop these unconscionable practices. ABCNEWS correspondent John Stossel questions the integrity of the government’s concern about gambling. If the sweepstakes are so terrible, then why are government-run lotteries OK? he asks. Read More
Cyber Casino Invades Las Vegas 3/21/2000 (Cyber Casino Invades Las Vegas) ST JOHNS, Antigua - From the tranquil shores of Antigua, the world's largest online casino has taken the Las Vegas strip by storm with a new major marketing initiative that's sure to ruffle the feathers of some Nevada casino owners. A fleet of brightly painted buses, sporting Omni Casino's logos, took to the streets of Las Vegas today. The buses will promote the online casino to millions of Las Vegas visitors, running the most popular bus routes in Las Vegas with the slogan ``Omni Casino-Online For Real: Win a Jackpot from Home.'' The campaign takes a stab at the big boys of Las Vegas, who have long-dominated the casino industry, by promoting a virtual casino on their turf. 100,000 free copies of Omni's online casino will also be distributed each week to riders on the buses, ensuring that visitors to Las Vegas will have access to casino games such as BlackJack, Poker, Craps and Slots long after they leave Las Vegas. ``Las Vegas is a place you go to gamble. Omni Casino brings the excitement of Las Vegas to you. You really can win a jackpot from home,'' said Alex Roberts, Omni Casino's Public Relations Officer. Read More
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