Conspiracy Theory: Put on Your Tin Foil Hats

[DVaut1]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think it is very far-fetched, actually.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do.

I'd love for this conspiracy to be true, but it seems like the conspirators went to an awful lot of trouble to achieve something they could have accomplished with much less effort and gotten done much sooner. If Harrah's or some other American gaming corp wants online gaming legalized, why not just go through the typical lobbying channels? If Harrah's, Caesars Ent., MGM et al want Frist or some other Senators do something for them, they typically just cut a bigger check and send it directly to their campaign coffers, or threaten to fund their opponents -- not engage in long, drawn-out legislative shenanigans that would invariably cost them lots of money if this was their 'real' motive.

Party made something like $850 million dollars in revenue last year. I suspect a legitimate American company with huge brand awareness and endless resources like Harrah's or MGM could make two or three times that if given the opportunity. You think they're going to spend a year or two orchestrating this kind of conspiracy when they could be making all that revenue right now? If the answer is "but they want to gain market share" -- that seems pretty silly. Party/Stars/888.com couldn't hope to compete with the B&M behemoths and their aura of legitimacy/infinite advertising resources/huge brand awareness.