Since ex- Partygaming group CEO Mitch Garber was appointed this week to head the Internet operations and World Series of Poker division at Harrah’s Entertainment, a giant land casino company, speculations are rife that this will be the beginning of a new era in U.S. online gambling.
Harrah’s has been demonstrating a big interest in supporting legalized and regulated online gambling in the United States and it is presumed that they will be making acquisitions in the online gaming sector.
In view of House Financial Services Committee chairman, Barney Frank’s preparation to launch another attack on the UIGEA in the House of Representatives later this month, Harrah’s Entertainment CEO, Gary Loveman, is confident that online poker will soon be legalized.
Another U.S. giant, MGM Mirage, also set up an online gambling operation in September 2001. Unfortunately, due to the legal situation in the U.S. constraining its activities the operation closed down in June 2003. However, they were successful in establishing the technology needed to protect minors and lessen the chances of money laundering.
Terri Lanni, who was Chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage at the time believes that it is necessary to regulate online gaming as millions of U.S. citizens are presently participating in unregulated online gaming.