the position of brick and mortar casinos

[Wynton]

Does anyone know whether the major brick and mortar casinos are actively lobbying for or against any of the pending, federal legislation?

I'm not asking for speculation about what their positions would be, but rather asking whether anyone knows if the larger casinos have taken any official stance or become actively involved in lobbying efforts.

[Berge20]

I'm not sure, just wanted to state that there is a significant difference between taking a position on it and actively lobbying on behalf of that position.

Will see what I can find out

[Wynton]

Yes, I agree totally there is a huge difference. I'm interested in knowing both the official positions, and their lobbying efforts.

[Berge20]

Word I am getting is that they are both supporting the study language via the AGA and lobbying hard for it.

Good news if accurate and not overstated - As for individual companies/casinos, I am not sure. My guess is they will work through their trade association unless they have personal relationships with Members in their area.

[Wynton]

[ QUOTE ]
Word I am getting is that they are both supporting the study language via the AGA and lobbying hard for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure what you're referring to; is there a proposal advocating nothing more than that Congress take time to create a study of various approaches?

[Berge20]

Yes - H.R. 5474, the Internet Gambling Study Commission Act, was introduced in the House in late May. It would create an independent commission to study the emerging internet gambling issue and recommend potential policy directions the federal government could go.

I think ultimately if the internet gambling bans get solid legs in the Senate (assuming House passage occurs in July), this type of language may be enough of a compromise to halt an immediate implementation like HR 4777 or HR 4411.

[Wynton]

Thanks for the info, I totally missed that act. And it does sound like the perfect sop for those who insist on claiming that they are doing something.

[Ignignokt]

My guess is that the bigger casino-owning corporations are coming around to the unstoppable inevitability of online gaming, and would love to open sites of their own (people would flock to an official Harrahs WSOP poker site, for example), which explains the Nevada congressmen behind the "study" angle.

Big tribals would probably love to start up sites too, but it seems like they're currently taking the position that if they can't do so, people should be forcefully barred from playing online. Pretty unenlightened, but anyone who has played at Foxwoods can probably understand.

Small cardrooms, I would guess, are solidly against it. Small businesspeople tend to fear competition.

IMO, anything that stimulates the culture is good for everyone. Cardrooms have exploded in Vegas, and in many tribal casinos, no doubt partly because people were able to check out "this poker thing" for little or no money first.

[Nate tha\\\' Great]

[ QUOTE ]
My guess is that the bigger casino-owning corporations are coming around to the unstoppable inevitability of online gaming, and would love to open sites of their own (people would flock to an official Harrahs WSOP poker site, for example), which explains the Nevada congressmen behind the "study" angle.

[/ QUOTE ]

This almost has to be correct. From the 30,000 foot level, poker is becoming more and more popular, and gambling is becoming more and more socially acceptable. There's a lot of money to be made in online poker, and in the long run, the political will in this country is usually going to follow the money. It's much easier for MGMPoker.net to become a reality if the loopholes in the law don't need to be re-opened.

[Bilgefisher]

Having big name casinos operating there own sites would allow for some very interesting cross promotions. Win a nights stay, win free trip to our casino...etc, etc.

Also as a player, I would much rather have them operating within the US for legal recourse and regulation.

If online poker became legally acceptable and properly regulated by the US, can you imagine the millions more that will flock to it?