Let your mouth speak archive

Gaming enthusiasts and companies such as Sightline Payments with Kirk Sanford would surely be glad to hear that the Mississippi Gaming Commission believes that new construction along the Gulf Coast is on the way.

A report stated that four new casinos may be built along the coast. The Margaritaville Casino in Biloxi is set to open by the end of this year, and the Rotate Black Casino has plans to open first in a converted cruise ship.

The state hopes that gaming income will increase significantly as a result of the new casinos.


Companies like Sightline Payments, with Kirk Sanford, will undoubtedly be pleased to hear that Moody’s Investors Service has predicted an increase in the U.S. gaming industry of 2011. They expect a 1-2% increase in projecting revenues, and a 2-4% percent growth in casino operator profits.

They add that although the gaming industry’s recovery will be uneven, casinos in newer locations such as Pennsylvania are certain to promote growth in the industry.
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Casino Industry Climbing Slowly
Posted by admin | Gaming,Kirk Sanford,Las Vegas,Sightline Payments,Sightline Payments LLC | Monday 29 November 2010 6:13 am

Companies such as Sightline Payments with Kirk Sanford may find it interesting that the casino industry has improved slightly over the past year, despite the recession.

The chief executive of the American Gaming Association, Frank Fahrenkopf, explained that gambling revenue in commercial US casinos rose 1.3% in the third quarter to just over $8 billion. That is around $100 million more than casinos brought in during the same period last year.
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Sightline Payments LLC Signs Agreements with Six Casinos
Posted by admin | Gaming,In The News,Kirk Sanford,Las Vegas,Sightline Payments,Sightline Payments LLC | Sunday 14 November 2010 4:44 am

Sightline Payments LLC, a gaming payments provider, recently announced that they have signed agreements with six casino operators who will be showcasing Sightline’s cash access solutions.

General Manager of Colusa Casino stated that “Sightline’s seamless implantation, follow-on responsiveness, reliability and fresh ideas truly live up to their customer focused motto. It’s been a pleasure to work with their team of professionals which not only understands and accommodates our requests, but also brings added value through innovation.” Eric Rose, General Manager of Colorado Grande Casino also showed his appreciation for Sightline’s work, when he said that “SmartAdvance is a proven competitive advantage. In just two weeks of Sightline’s implantation we saw our average ticket climb by an overall 65% and we have outpaced the traditional cash advance dollar volume by 2 to 1.”

Sightline Payments, with President Kirk Sanford, has invested greatly on revolutionary payment technologies to the gaming market in the past year, ensuring that customers have the most secure, consistent and convenient access to their funds in a casino. Their approach is an original one, which can produce new revenue as well as reduce casino operator expenses.

Media Corporation, the former owners of Gambling.com, announced last week that the domain has been sold to an unnamed buyer for just $2.5m. The sale is a massive loss to the company, as they paid a staggering $20m for the domain back in 2005. The timing of their initial purchase couldn’t have been worse, as it was bought just before the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 in the US came into effect. Since then, the site also experienced penalties from Google between 2007 and 2009 for reasons which are still unknown.

Despite the negativities surrounding the site’s history, Media Corporation Chief Executive Justin Drummond remained positive over the recent sale, as it is one of the biggest ‘dotcom’ sales to date. Sedo have also seen the $1m sale of Poker.org to PokerCompany.com, as well as Bodog snapping up Slots.com for $5.5m last year – it was one of the top ten domain purchases in history.

Sedo spokesperson Lisabeth Mack-de-Boer said: “The high sale price paid for Gambling.com is a real confidence booster for the global domain industry.” The unnamed buyers must also see the sale as a positive aspect, with rumours flying that they may have inside information on the legislation of online play in the US. Only time will tell whether the domain purchase will be regarded as a huge bargain or an even bigger mistake.

Becoming the first US jurisdiction to allow internet gambling with government’s approval of the provision, The District of Columbia is all set to offer internet gambling to the people living in DC.

In recent developments, internet gambling was legalized in the District of Columbia making this US jurisdiction to be the first to allow the same. As per the reports, a Greece based company Intralot would operate the gaming. The gaming would however be available to gamblers making bets within DC.

Legalization of the games has been proposed and approved and the move contradicts the 2006 federal law that effectively prohibited internet gambling.

If the gambling experts are to be believed, the law created gray areas consequently opening the door for the expansion in to the multi billion dollar industry.

Michael A. Brown – D.C. councilman who had authored the provision came up with his conservative estimate which indicates that the district would earn roughly $13-$14 million through financial year 2014. D.C. anticipates tapping those millions to aid offset budget cuts and also help the social services programs, said Brown.

As per Brown, “Anytime you’re cutting budgets and you want to save some programs, you’re looking for different pieces from different pots and you hope that you get to the number that restores those budget shortfalls and that’s what we’re trying to do with this,” Brown said.

Gambling receiving green light from the government has come as great news for the new poker players. However, D.C. would have permissions to offer other games requiring skill & chance as well. The lottery officials would then decide which all games to permit.

The best part about the online poker games is that they allow computer users to deposit money into an account. The online poker games also allow the players to place wagers against other players just as it is in real gambling.

“Assuming it’s implemented it would become a part of our lottery program and could generate additional resources for the District of Columbia as we continue to support ourselves,” says Mayor Vincent Gray.

Continual arrestee Andy Dick was busted yet again last night in Temecula, CA, on charges of "disorderly conduct with alcohol" after causing a scene inside a restaurant. This is not unlike one of his last arrests, when he was arrested in a town close to Temecula, called Murrieta. Dick was at Buffalo Wild Wings when he decided he had to take a relieve himself in the parking lot. We're assuming the place had bathrooms.

He also allegedly pulled down the shirt of a 17-year-old girl and cops found marijuana and Xanax in his pocket. And in January of 2010, Dick was arrested around 4:00 a.m. at a bar in Huntington, West Virginia, on charges of sexual abuse after reportedly groping a bartender and a patron of a restaurant. Apparently, restaurants are a trigger for his bad behavior.

Just this past January, Dick was kicked out of the Palms Casino Resort for harassing a porn star at the Adult Video News (AVN) awards.

For this arrest, the details are elusive, but Dick had seemingly found success and sobriety at Dr. Drew's "Celebrity" rehab center, where pretty much everyone goes, claims to get clean, then immediately gets arrested.

His bail was set for $500, and after he sobered up, and was then reportedly released.

Although Dick is a comedian slash actor, he has been more known recently for his sensationalistic drug and alcohol abuse.

A last-minute attempt to get a casino smoking ban in Iowa fell by the wayside as the House went on to pass a wide-ranging gambling bill today that includes a provision allowing people to vote on horse races from home.

The measure, which has already passed the Senate, went through on a 72-21 vote and now goes to the governor.

“I was surprised there weren’t more questions,” said Rep. Peter Cownie, R-West Des Moines, chairman of the state government committee and floor manager for the bill. He noted there wasn’t much debate on the House floor.

“I’m pleased with what we were able to pass,” he said. “I was really pleased that we were able to get a lot of those groups in agreement — the horse breeders, the tracks, all the different interests.”

The bill:

• Requires that the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission study Internet gambling and produce a report for lawmakers by Dec. 1.

• Changes the law that requires local voters to approve a referendum for the continuing existence of the casinos every eight years. Under the legislation, there is a single eight-year review. After that review, a referendum would go on the ballot only if 10 percent of the residents of the county who voted in the previous presidential or gubernatorial election sign a petition calling for it.

• Memorializes a deal between the state’s various horse breeders and race tracks over purses and allows the state to adopt a system for advanced wagering, which is placing bets on upcoming horse races either over the phone or via the computer.

Rep. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, moved an amendment that would have made casinos have to choose between not having a third referendum or going smoke-free.

Under her proposal, casinos that had a smoking ban in place would be able to only have two referendums; those casinos that still allowed smoking would have to have a referendum every eight years, as they are required to do now.

But her amendment wasn’t picked up.

Earlier this session, Gov. Terry Branstad pushed for an increase in the casino tax to help pay other tax cuts but was met with stiff opposition from gaming interests and members of the legislature.

The governor has not indicated his intention on the bill that passed today.

“The governor has not taken a position on this piece of legislation and will continue to monitor its progress,” Tim Albrecht, Branstad spokesman, said.

Andy was never really that funny either. Gotta start telling him he can only order takeout. 😄

Never was a big fan anyway.i guess its a last resort for once popular people to get back in the limelight.

Gambling is at least a $3 billion industry in Minnesota -- a conservative estimate because it doesn't fully capture sales at the state's tribal casinos. Here's the breakdown:

Tribal casinos: $1.5 billion in 2008, according to an estimate from Dr. Alan Meister's Indian Gaming Report. The revenue figure is revenue remaining after prizes but before expenses are paid. Tribes are not required to report revenues. The 11 tribes in Minnesota operate 18 casinos, according to the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, which claims an economic impact of tribal casinos in Minnesota of $2.75 billion.

Horse racing $55.1 million

Card gaming $40.6 million

Venues: Canterbury Park Holding Corp. in Shakopee and Running Aces Harness Park in Anoka County both offer live and simulcast horse racing and a card room. Figures are from the Minnesota Racing Commission.

Minnesota State Lottery: $499 million

The Minnesota State Lottery reported record ticket sales for the year ended June of 2010, including $338.1 million from scratch games and $160.9 from lotto game. The lottery generated $122.2 million for state projects and programs. Minnesota has more than 3,000 lottery retailers.

Charitable gambling: $980 million

There are 1,292 nonprofit organizations licensed to conduct gambling, according to the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. Net receipts (gross less prizes) from gambling activities has fallen for nine of the last 10 years. Net receipts for the year ended June 30, 2010, was $179.7 million, down 5 percent from fiscal 2009.

Casino development in Maine, now steered largely by the citizen initiative process, should be under the control of the Legislature, the sponsor of a bill setting forth a competitive bidding process told lawmakers Wednesday. "I feel we're missed the boat in getting out ahead on gambling issues," Rep. Linda Valentino told the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. "But it's not too late."

The Saco Democrat, who serves on the committee, is pushing a bill to authorize three casinos in the state subject to a competitive bidding process. A winning bidder would have to pay a "privilege" fee of $5 million to operate a casino for up to 20 years. A slot facility would pay $3 million.

Valentino's bill was shaped by the committee last session as a competing question on the ballot to the referendum proposal to allow a casino in Oxford County. The competing question never went on the ballot and voters authorized Black Bear Entertainment's $165 million western Maine casino plan.

"This is the bill that the state of Maine should have had years ago," Valentino told the committee. "Instead of addressing this issue, we have had one citizen initiative after another."

Valentino said her bill was modeled after a Kansas law. Massachusetts, which does not have casinos or racinos, is debating a plan to introduce a competitive bidding process for up to three casinos. There are no major casino issues in play in either New Hampshire or Vermont.

The Maine bill comes as one initiated bill proposes racinos -- combination harness racing tracks and slot facilities -- in Biddeford in southern Maine and eastern Maine's Washington County. A separate initiated bill would allow a casino in Lewiston.

If the Legislature doesn't pass the bills, they'll go to voters in a referendum next November. With so much uncertainty in the future of casino gambling in Maine, it would be unwise to go ahead with Valentino's bill, Black Bear Entertainment's Peter Martin told the committee.

Also opposing Valentino's bill was Penn National Gaming, owner of Hollywood Slots in Bangor, which questions whether the state should change its rules for gambling after it's made a significant investment in its Maine racino.

The Veterans and Legal Affairs panel took up several gambling-related bills Wednesday, including one that would allow Hollywood Slots to run a casino that includes table games.

Another proposal would redirect some of the gambling revenue from the planned Oxford casino to an expansion of passenger rail service from "points within the state" to Oxford. Supporters say it could mean service from Portland to the casino and the ski area near Bethe, Sunday River.

There was no final vote on the bills, which face further committee review.

If you're not sick of hearing Mike "The Situation Sorrentino" brand himself by constantly reminding viewers there's "a situation" going down, then you're in luck! Dude is getting his own show.

Snooki, JWoww and Pauly D had already sealed deals with MTV for spin off shows, leaving Sorrentino in the dust, but luckily for Mike, he has signed a "series development deal" with the network for an unnamed project … but it's a safe bet it's a reality show.

Obviously, The Situation exclaimed, "I'm excited to continue my relationship with MTV … Hopefully, there will be plenty more situations in the future."

While he has no specific hook, a pilot presentation is expected to be filmed later this year. We're sure it will be gripping.*

Meanwhile season four of Jersey Shore is readying for filming when the fist bumping crew descends upon the beautiful, historical city of Florence. Apparently, producers chose it because they say, "it's young, walkable, fashionable, and beautiful in springtime" – which is kind of the opposite of the Jersey Shore cast.

Although producers already know where the cast will be staying, apparently they won't know until they get off the plane and travel into the city itself.

The Situation already got a break when he was cast in the previous season of Dancing with the Stars. He reportedly raked in a whopping $5 million in 2010 including appearances at clubs, endorsement deals, etc.

On-again-off-again couple Ronni and Sammi have apparently been left out in the cold. A show about them fighting all the time would probably get old very, very fast.

Think you know what will happen the next season of uhh Florence Shore? Get all your reality TV betting in the Bodog Sportsbook today, where American Idol and Dancing with the Stars odds are all the rage!

*sarcasm

THE Caboolture Sports Club has offered a solution to the proposed poker machine reforms that it says will help tackle problem gambling and prevent clubs from going to the wall.
The club has introduced a new system called Simplay, which allows members to use their membership card to deposit and collect money from gaming machines, as well as offering new harm minimisation features.
Describing calls by Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie for the introduction of mandatory pre-commitment as ``preposterous’‘, Caboolture Sports Club secretary manager Kelvin Patch said Simplay gave members easier ways to play, but also the ability to set limits on how much they wanted to spend and how long they played.
``We think that the most important aspect of this system is that it is optional, so that it gives the member the choice if they want to set limits or not,’’ he said.
‘‘Caboolture Sports Club is committed to providing our gaming products in a responsible manner and the Club already has a number of responsible gambling policies and procedures in place.
``We have been acknowledged by the Queensland Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing as a Best Practice venue in conforming to the voluntary Queensland Gaming Code of Practice, which means we are already doing above and beyond our legislated requirements.’‘
Social worker Dave Robinson, however, says the Federal Government’s 2010 Productivity Commission Report into Gambling found 40 per cent of pokie takings came from addicts.
``The average pokie addict spends $23,000 per year on the pokies,’’ he said.
The Gambling Help co-ordinator for the Moreton Bay region says he supports pre-commitment cards which would see gamers forced to self-limit their spending on pokies but he said they’re ``no silver bullet’‘.
He would also prefer to see less machines, citing Western Australia which only allows pokies in casinos.
``Their rate (of problem gambling) is 20 per cent of Queensland’s,’’ he said.
``And the clubs may not be as big and as glittery as the ones in the eastern states but they’re still there.’’
Mr Robinson has spent eight years working with gambling addicts, and says 80 per cent of his clients use pokies.
He said gambling addiction could lead to theft, domestic violence, separations, and, in the worst case scenario, suicide.
But he said gamblers also lost time as well as money.
``We see people who haven’t been taking care of their families like forgetting to pick the kids up from school or not having enough food in the pantry or not having enough money for school uniforms,’’ he said.

To borrow a term from the world of gaming, there was a lot of "action" over gambling bills at the state legislature this year. Measures ran the gamut from legalizing shipboard gaming to opening a stand alone casino to hosting a televised high-stakes poker tournament where players collect winnings from each other, not the house.

"Why not look at this? We get the hotels filled four to six weeks. We get the shots between the rounds of Hawaii's beauty. It's free advertising," said Rep. Angus McKelvey, chairman of the House Economic Revitalization and Business Committee.

McKelvey foresees the poker bill re-surfacing next session, plus a measure to legalize bingo, with a casino bill a definite possibility.

For the full story, watch Hawaii News Now tonight at 10:00 p.m.

Iowa has come one step closer to becoming the first state in the US to fully legalise online gambling. The state House approved the gaming bill with a large majority - 72 votes to just 21 who opposed it.

The final step of approval takes the bill to the desk of the Iowa Governor, where it is believed to be signed to be approved into the law. Once the Governor approves and signs the bill, iGaming Business reports that “Iowa will follow the District of Columbia in creating a workable framework for iGaming regulation on a non-federal level, leapfrogging the likes of New Jersey, Florida and Nevada.”

This couldn’t have come at a better time for the US, and is the first piece of positive gambling news since the Black Friday debacle last month, which saw some of the biggest and most popular Poker websites shut down to US players by the FBI.

International Game Technology recently announced its plan to expand its online gambling world by acquiring Swedish online gambling firm Entraction Holding. Entraction was established in 2000 and is now one of the world's foremost suppliers of products and services for online gaming. Entraction is an independent supplier and operates one of the world’s largest poker networks. In addition to software for betting, bingo, casino and poker, customers have access to all the tools and peripheral services they need to operate a successful gaming site. Customers also have access to one of the world's fastest growing poker networks. The system has over two million registered players from Europe.

In 2008, Entraction launched European Masters of Poker™ together with partners in the poker network and some of Europe's best and most exclusive casinos. Entraction is a wholly owned subsidiary of Goldcup 6663 AB, which it said is changing its name to Eagle One AB.
The deal that International Game Technology has struck with Entraction is valued at approximately $115.3 million US Dollars. IGT said it would finance the acquisition with cash available from its balance sheet.

International Game Technology is a company based in Nevada USA that specializes in the design, development, manufacturing, sales and distribution of gaming machines and network system products internationally, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. The company‘s main offices are in Las Vegas and Reno Nevada USA. Outside of the USA the company has been involved in online gaming since 2005.
Entraction's board will recommend the offer to its shareholders, Entraction Chairman Borje Fors said in a prepared statement. Entraction's main shareholder, board member Henrik Kvick, has undertaken to accept the offer under certain conditions.
IGT CEO Patti Hart commented on the deal, "It strengthens our interactive portfolio by adding poker, bingo, casino and sports betting. This combination will drive enhanced value for our global customers and partners,''

All you General Hospital fans get ready to get your hate on. After announcing that she's leaving the CBS Evening News, Katie Couric will be given her own talk show on the ABC network, a $20 million deal, which would also give Katie a piece of the ABC News pie. Long-running soap General Hospital would be out, Katie Couric would be in.

TMZ reports that Katie would do specials for ABC News, 20/20, and do as well as other anchoring bits and pieces. But the bulk of the deal lies in a 1-hour, 5-day-a-week talk show slated to go down in September of 2012 during the hour General Hospital, the third longest running soap opera in history, airs

The cost for Katie and her partner, Jeff Zucker is a $20 million for the syndicated show for the the first year, and she'll receive a "nominal amount" for her work in the news division. As for the rumors that Matt Lauer will leave the Today Show to partner back up with Katie, that ship has sailed.

Couric’s career has been a bit of a roller coaster since she quit NBC’s Today Show in favor of hosting the CBS Evening News broadcast, the first solo female anchor of the weekday evening news. However after ratings plummeted and Katie and CBS parted ways.

Couric told the New York Times Magazine that she has been in talks with Zucker to team up for her own show which would center on “smart conversation."

Although ratings slipped after Couric took over the CBS Evening News, she did receive the Walter Cronkite Award for Journalism Excellence for those infamous Sarah Palin interviews.

Proposed luxury-style casinos, including one at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, have been stripped from a gambling bill as supporters try to round up enough votes to push the measure through the House.

Rep. Mike Hamilton, R-Mauriceville, said Friday night that he could not muster enough support to keep the casinos in a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand gambling.

The measure is now limited to authorizing slot machines at racetracks and Indian reservations.

The House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee, which Hamilton chairs, tentatively endorsed the measure Friday night, but Hamilton said the bill will have to return to the committee for tweaking.

The committee will likely vote today, but prospects for getting a gambling bill through this session of the Legislature are dwindling fast.

A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate would be required to place the proposed amendment on the November ballot. If voters approved, lawmakers would have to pass enabling legislation in their next session, in 2013.

Hamilton crafted an earlier bill that would have authorized up to seven casinos, including one in Tarrant County.

Additionally, the bill would have allowed on-premises casinos at the state's three Class One racetracks, including Lone Star Park.

Gaming is the largest segment of Canada's entertainment industry and supports more than 135,000 full-time jobs and generates almost $9 billion annually to fund government and community programs and services.

Recently, the vice-president of the non-profit Canadian Gaming Association, Paul Burns, was a panel member at the iGaming North America conference held in Las Vegas. Burns acknowledged the recent re-election of Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the landslide victory for the conservative party in relation to his Association's responsibility to work with the public, government officials and media to create a better understanding of the gaming industry in Canada. Canada is dealing with the online regulatory process at the same time as the United States and the recent developments there.

The Canadian gambling scene combines lotteries, province-run casinos and First Nation casinos. Canada does not have a central policy regulating gambling so individual provinces are free to deal with the gaming industry. The online gambling industry wants to enter the mix.

In Canada, all non-horse racing gambling must be controlled by provincial governments and the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec currently offer online gambling through a shared network website called PlayNow.com but can only offer these games to their respective residents. Ontario wants to implement online gambling including online poker and is considering expanding these games to players outside the province. Any future gaming activity will have to go through Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG). Current land-based casino operations in Ontario are a joint venture between the OLG and existing online operators and it is anticipated online gambling will follow the same formula and be up and running by 2012.

Actor and activist George Clooney turns 50 today and the guy is still smoking hot. Whether it be his young, hot, Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis that keeps him so svelte, or perhaps it's just the Clooney genes that are damn good, but whatever Clooney's putting in his milkshakes is working. Dude made his acting debut in 1978! That's just crazy.

For his work as an actor, Clooney has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award (for his 2005 flick Syriana). Clooney is also noted for his social activism and has served as one of the United Nations Messengers of Peace since 2008, helping to raise awareness about the conflict in Darfur, raising funds for the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 2004 Tsunami as well as here in the U.S., with 9/11. Hey, helping others can keep a man looking good, right?

Known as a perpetual bachelor, Clooney first gained a role on Centennial and also made appearances on The Facts of Life as well as The Golden Girls. He also famously played a hot doc on ER.

Raised by strict Roman Catholic parents, Clooney was taunted in middle school, when he developed Bell's palsy, a debilitating condition that partially paralyzes the face. The condition was temporary and went away within a year, but Clooney was traumatized by the experience.

"That was the worst time of my life," he told the Daily Mirror in 2003. "You know how cruel kids can be. I was mocked and taunted, but the experience made me stronger."

Just yesterday, Clooney's hot girlfriend posed nude for PETA. Happy birthday, George!

And since he was born in Lexington, Kentucky, we have to wonder, do you think Clooney is having a Kentucky Derby party for his birthday? Perhaps. And what makes a great Derby party even more exciting? If you've got some money riding on your favorite contenders. Visit the Bodog Racebook for all your Kentucky Derby betting now.

Panelists addressing an Internet gambling conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday said online casinos would enhance business at brick-and-mortar properties instead of cannibalizing them.

The panelists — three of them Las Vegas industry executives — said just as casino expansion in New Jersey, in riverboat markets and on Indian reservations led to established Las Vegas casinos growing their market share, the legalization of Internet gambling would give them the ability to reach out to new customers.

The panelists made their remarks on the first day of the two-day iGaming North America, a conference addressing aspects of Internet gambling, attended by more than 300 people at the Monte Carlo.

Internet gambling is illegal in the United States, but the debate is growing over whether to legalize, regulate and tax it as a new revenue source for governments starving for cash to pay for underfunded programs.

Some industry leaders think online gambling would take customers from traditional casinos, but the panelists, including Jan Jones of Caesars Entertainment, Art Manteris of Station Casinos and Doug Dalton of Bellagio, said they believe Internet gambling would grow the market and present opportunities for land-based casinos.

“The average gaming customer is around 50 years old,” said Jones, senior vice president of communications and government relations for Caesars. “The upcoming generation of gambler — the X and Y generation — makes all of their decisions on the Internet. They meet, they congregate, they make entertainment choices and I believe if we don’t have a significant presence, there is the likelihood that they will make other entertainment choices that are not gambling choices.”

Jones cited the newspaper industry, record stores and bookstores as businesses that did not have good online strategies in place and paid the price for failing to react to the advantages of the technology.

The popularity of poker, the game that is driving the effort to legalize online wagering, has grown exponentially in the last decade.

Mark Tenner, president of gaming consultant Concept Development Group, said about 250,000 people played poker online or in casinos 11 years ago. Today, there are an estimated 65 million players.

Dalton, who manages the poker room at the Bellagio, said the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour have grown in part as a result of players migrating to casinos from online poker.

Panelist Steve Rittvo, chairman of The Innovation Group, a gaming consultant, called the online environment a “farm team” that has fed the growth of poker play in casinos. He believes the poker market would double within five years of legalization.

Manteris, vice president of race and sports book operations at Station, said the failure of the horse racing industry to embrace new technology has led to its current financial struggles.

Asked how the casino industry would react if online gambling were legalized and it resulted in a flood of new competition, panelists said individual companies would have to step up their efforts to compete for customers.

“If a Lowes, a Home Depot and a Wal-Mart all opened within a mile of each other, what do they do?” Jones asked. “You become smarter, better marketers.”

A separate panel also addressed how Hollywood could impact Internet gambling.

The convergence of television and online media could lead either to losing market share or opportunities for new partnerships, panelists concluded.

Vahe Baloulian, CEO of Red Planet Marketing, Vienna, Austria, said television has successfully grown markets in Europe by educating viewers about how to play games in an entertaining way.

Panel moderator Terry Debono, a partner in The Debono Group, Toronto, said television has built a large game-show audience over the years, and collaborations between casinos and shows like “Wheel of Fortune” have proved successful in the casino environment.

In Great Britain, television is collaborating with casino companies by broadcasting live games and enabling home audiences to wager online.

While most of the panels and presentations delved into online gaming implementation, marketing and policy considerations, one panel assessed the damage that occurred on “Gray Friday,” April 15, when prosecutors with the Justice Department filed a money laundering complaint that seeks $3 billion being held by three online poker companies.

The U.S. website domains of PokerStars, Absolute Poker and Full Tilt Poker were seized and 11 executives were indicted on counts of bank fraud and money laundering. Absolute has quit allowing American customers to register for the site or deposit money, while PokerStars and Full Tilt have shut down their U.S. operations.

Legal experts Fred Heather of K&L Gates and Paul Hugel of Clayman & Rosenberg, who have practiced in New York, where the indictment was unsealed, said the case is mostly about accusations about what the poker companies allegedly told various banks about their transactions, with violations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act as the vehicle in the fraud and money laundering case.

“The heart of this case is this collateral activity, which constitutes bank fraud and money laundering,” Heather said. “One of the indications of that is the fact that the government isn’t resisting the return of money to the players through their deposits.”

The panelists said the odds are slim that the case would ever go to trial, because eight of the defendants are from out of the country and are expected to resist extradition. A settlement is the most likely resolution of the case, they said.

A parallel civil case also has been filed.

Panelists said it is an unorthodox fraud case because the victims in the case, the banks, were receiving money in the transactions. The companies are accused of hiding Internet gambling transactions by listing them as payments for sports equipment and flowers.

The lawmakers really know how to screw up a good thing. :mad: