[woodguy]

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Put differently: if Harrah's et al are going to influence Frist to do all this legislative maneuvering with the expectation online gaming will eventually be legalized and regulated (quite possibly years from now), why not just skip all that [censored] (and the months/years it may take to for that strategy to eventually materialize into a regulated market that they dominate), and why don't they just use their influence peddling to guarantee the federal government only grants them (and they alone) licenses right now? Since the conspiracy implies the American B&M gaming corps. have this kind of influence, why wait two or three years and go through all of this? They're passing up lots and lots of potential revenue right now by doing so, for something they can ostensibly only achieve years from now. How could they explain, if they have the kind of influence the OP implies -- how could they explain all these machinations to stockholders? Certainly the promise of increased revenue (in the distant future) is nice, but it pales in comparison to the promise of increased revenue in the current fiscal year. It defies reason as to why the gaming corps. would orchestrate such an outlandish conspiracy while refusing to take much easier action to accomplish the same ends.

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That's perfectly plausible as well.

It would be harder to do though, as its not really legal to restrict foriegn companies from competing in this market segment, if you belive that the WTO has any teeth. (which is debatable).

edit: especially if the foreign companies are already servicing this market. As a Canadian who sells into the US I know some of this to be true (but being Candian, I am helped greatly by NAFTA and this doesn't fall into my particular expertise but I did read the WTO ruling on the last online gaming case a while back.....)

This may all be conjecture, but it does fit rather nicely, especially since Harrah's donated to Frist's campaign. Why else would Harrah's donate, simple good will from a Senator from Tennessee(sp)? Does Harrah operate anything in Tennessee? That may make sense if they do, and this conjecture is incorrect.

I still have my tinfoil hat on though....

Regards,
Woodguy