Harrah’s Pitches for Online Gambling
At the ongoing Global iGaming Summit and Expo (GiGSE) Harrah’s came out strongly in favor of online gambling through the keynote address delivered by Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment CEO Mitch Garber. Garber is one of the most respected figures in online gambling having headed PartyGaming and practiced as an attorney in the field of gaming.
In order to highlight the inevitability of online gambling Garber gave a potent example, that of his teenage son. His son has not heard about Webster’s dictionary and is incapable of mailing a letter with a stamp on it. He lives in the world of Internet alone. The implication was the next generation of poker players will not be interested in physically handling chips or cards. Everything will have to be done “virtually”.
Garber stressed it is important to do away with the stratification within the industry. Debates like which jurisdictions are white-label or which regulatory body is correct are deterring the growth of the industry. He cited Article 49 of the European Union as an example of ambiguous legislation. Garber said, “That is an immature business and is proof of an immature business. We need to get the online gaming industry into the same unambiguous state that the offline gaming industry (is in).”
Garber pointed out that everywhere synergy was being created between online and offline properties. Citing the example of Apple he said, “Apple has been able to marry being a leader in creating a fantastic offline experience in selling hard goods like the Mac and the iPod with leading online product sales like iTunes and apps on the iPhone.” This is exactly what Harrah’s will be trying to achieve in the field of poker and casino gambling. Garber outlined some of the steps already taken by Harrah’s. It contacts customers by e-mail and has a presence on social networking sites interactive. Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment has launched Caesars Casino Online, Caesars Bingo and a World Series of Poker room in the United Kingdom and will be expanding these in other European countries.
Garber said that both legislators and the public at large need to be educated. Harrah’s will take the lead in this effort. “Harrah’s is putting its money where its mouth is,” he said. “We are very large supporters of various lobbying efforts both in the United States and abroad…”
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