LV Casinos Could Be Taking Bets From Outside the U.S. in 6 Months

[Samurai]

Internet gambling forum in Las Vegas to feature new technology

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Some Las Vegas casinos could be catering to Internet bettors outside the United States within six months, industry experts say.

At issue, they say, is technology that can accurately identify someone visiting an Internet gambling Web site and authenticate the person's location.

"The reality is that the technology is currently available that can meet even the highest standards set by any government," said Tony Cabot, Internet gambling expert and Las Vegas attorney. "The question becomes: What are the standards going to be? Because as you raise the bar, the cost of deployment also raises."

About a dozen of the world's leading high-tech security companies plan to demonstrate systems they think can make Internet gambling safe and credible to Nevada gambling regulators, casino operators and investors during a UNLV forum Feb. 13.

The technology includes a global positioning satellite system to pinpoint an Internet bettor's location or a mouse that scans a thumbprint.

"If I come to a particular site, I could gamble, but my 12-year-old son couldn't," said Richard Fitzpatrick, chief executive of the Interactive Gaming Institute. "This conference will deal with the real nuts and bolts issues of player identification and location."

MGM Mirage Inc., the Las Vegas Strip's largest hotel-casino operator, is the first major U.S. gambling corporation to obtain an Internet gambling license off shore.

The company was licensed in September on the Isle of Man, an island-nation off the coast of Great Britain that is establishing Internet gambling regulations. Company officials said at the time it would be at least a year before the site could be open for business.

"We are aggressive, but we're also cautious," said Terry Lanni, MGM Mirage chief executive. "We have to feel comfortable and so do the various jurisdictions that we operate in."

Lanni said the biggest hurdles for implementing Internet gambling are technical - the ability to determine the location and age of a potential Internet gambler - and how to deal with problem gamblers.

Nevada gambling regulators, however, are concerned with the legalities facing Internet gambling within U.S. borders.

Although the federal government considers Internet gambling illegal, Nevada is working on regulations that would let it become the first state to allow Internet gambling and capture some of the estimated $2.2 billion wagered worldwide over the Internet in 2000.

That figure is expected to exceed $4 billion this year and $6 billion by 2003, according to Christiansen Capital Advisors, which studies the industry.

A law passed in June authorized Nevada gambling regulators to craft rules allowing state casino operators to also operate Internet casinos, providing key conditions were met.

Until the legal issues are resolved, Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Pete Bernhard said it's premature to begin setting technology standards.

Dennis Neilander, chairman of the state Gaming Control Board, said the board has been researching the legal aspects of Internet gambling concerning the federal Wire Act and keeping abreast of the latest technology.

"But it doesn't matter if we have the technology at 100 percent if it's not legal," he said, adding there are four measures pending in Congress that could render Internet gambling in the United States illegal.

Fitzpatrick said Internet gambling is inevitable and predicted that a number of Nevada casino owners soon will be operating offshore casinos

"The way Internet gaming will be regulated is just like alcohol within the U.S.," he said. "It will go state by state."

[Spearmaster]

Unrealistic.

I can just see them requiring all computer owners to obtain GPS devices.

Yes, they could take bets outside the US. But to do so they have to be 100% sure they are not allowing US visitors in any way, shape or form, and no land-based casino will take that kind of a risk now, or in six months.

Do not expect anything to happen this year unless the Feds suddenly and drastically reverse direction and move to legislate online gambling.

While I respect what Cabot is saying, even he surely knows that this is not going to happen - could one of you local guys call him and ask him if that was what he meant to say?

[The Devil]

If they bend the rules to allow this....Do they then apoligize to Jay Cohen????

Do they give him back his legal fees????

[Pancho Sanza]

wow, living in Canada just got better. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Tom0Co]

Why would they want to take bets outside of the U.S. when they don't want to take on all the action in Vegas?

Why am I thinking that if this does occur, that the online Vegas books won't compare to the current established top offshore shops?

Still, they would have a great market if it was open throughout the U.S. due to the masses of recreational bettors wishing to do business with a Vegas casino versus an unknown island book. However this is not the case.

I doubt that the international market for them would be all that great as they'll be focusing on mainly U.S. sports and the weight of a Vegas casino name will not carry the same importance overseas.

[JC]

Devil,

I won't waste anytime waiting by the phone.

I only skimmed the article because I know what they are saying in general and personally it makes me want to "get sick."

They will apply the same principles that OTB uses and that WSEX did but the court disallowed in MY case. Legal to receive a bet, legal to place a bet, then it's all ok. This is why Vegas will START with taking bets from other countries where the "placing" of a bet is legal. Eventually they will expand to many other states if they get started.

I also don't think Vegas will offer sports betting for a long time of ever over the net.

But what do I know, I have been very wrong about a lot of things to date.

[Mr Memory]

Don't believe they're talking sports . . .
but they'd be delighted to entertain all
the casino tablegame idiots they can entice.

[Lagadish]

why doesn't the government just allow them to take wagers and tax the hell out of them on their winnings..

evryone will be happy then