Major Land-Based Casinos In Favor Of Legal Online Gambling
For a long time casinos in America wanted to bring gambling online, as it was a way that they could extend their brands. This seems to make sense, as there is evidence that has shown that online gambling websites boost business for land-based casinos, especially poker rooms. The Internet has brought about a whole new generation of new poker players that wanted to prove their poker skills at real life poker tables where they could win a lot of money and prestige.
However, not everyone is on the bandwagon for the legalization of online gambling. For may years the members of the Gambling Association, which is a organization that lobbies on the federal level has been watching with an eagle eye the debate dealing with Internet gambling, have been split on whether to legalize net gambling or not.
Two of the largest members of the Gambling Association, the MGM Mirage and Harrah’s Entertainment, are in support of legalizing online gambling. Several members of the association are against the legalization and regulation of online casinos and they believe that online gambling cannot be policed in an adequate manner and may bring embarrassment to the gambling industry as a whole. As a result of this the Gambling Association has been forced to have a neutral stance on this delicate issue.
Stories have been published by many reputable newspapers about people losing all their money in casinos, which is something a lot of people do not relate to since they can simply avoid going to casinos or they see casinos, especially ones in Las Vegas, as a vacation destination or a night out.
However, what is not seen is the gambling binges that can happen at online casinos, which is very freighting for a lot of people, especially regulators and politicians.
The most vocal supporter of legalizing online gambling is Harrah’s and they will benefit the most if it happens. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is owned by Harrah’s and the WSOP has turned into a worldwide tournament franchise, which is very much like a professional sports league.
Mitch Garber heads Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment and he is the former CEO of the huge online gambling site Party Gaming. He wants to develop the WSOP brand globally and look into online gambling opportunities in Europe where various countries have either legalized online gambling or have not made online gambling a criminal action.
Harrah’s is the owner of the biggest customer list in the casino industry, as they have millions of members. Even though there is a current recession Harrah’s Total Rewards database keeps growing through WSOP tournaments at casinos across the U.S. and various WSOP events in Europe. American law prevents Harrah’s from recognizing players that win entry fees to WSOP events through satellite tournaments that are offered on online gambling websites. There are no restrictions like this at BetFair, which has buy in offers for players for Harrah’s WSOP European tournaments.
Even though it is the case that many casino companies see efforts for state legalization of online gambling with both excitement and trepidation Harrah’s has expanded their brand in America and are very aggressive in advertising casino gambling as a pastime in the United States.
