Harrah's "Intranet" Poker

[grapabo]

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Playing online poker in a casino = GAY
Yes, this should fail miserably. However, this makes sense if it's gonna be a "dry" run for future Internet poker as previously mentioned.

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I can see it now: Harrah's rooms filled with rows and rows of cubicles, each with a computer screen, a mouse, and access to the local intranet with likeminded players who had to get up, get dressed, and leave the house in a timely manner, each one trying to make their day's pay.

It'd almost be like, well...


Going to work.

[malo]

My first thought when I read this article was that Harrah's might use this to gain increased control over the WSOP ME qualifying process.

They currently have their land-based circuit, but they could use this intranet to offer more qualifiers (at very little cost to themselves--no dealers, no tied up tables, very few personnel needed.) They could do single property qualifiers, and perhaps play it down to the final table, which could then be live if they chose. They could do qualifiers involving a few properties, or every property.

If this is successful for them, would not be surprised if they start looking at shutting out other casinos (online or B&M) from qualifying people for the WSOP.

They could also use this to offer a lot more tournaments, both multi-table and SNG's in general. Might be a good deal if they imposed the "normal" online fee of roughly 10%. But since this is Harrah's, would expect tourney fees to be higher. And the higher they are, the less of a good deal it would be for the players.

[lfairban]

I think everyone is forgetting something here.

Oneline poker which is to say poker by computer is ineherently more efficient than table poker. When dealers do not need to physically shuffel and deal the cards and players do not need to move chips, everything costs less and works better. That is why the rake is less than half of what I understand it is in casinos.

There are also few if any table disputes online. Your cards can't accidently flip over and you can't bet out of turn.

I know the "tells" are missing, but that and a somewhat increased possibility of collusion are the only downsides.

If they can pull it off, I think it will be a win-win.

[dashman]

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In my opinion this will fail miserably.

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I think so, too. Especially since online poker is still alive and kicking.

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Agreed, until online poker is really no more, this will be a horrible alternative.

[rageotones]

like one poster mentioned, i can see this being a GREAT thing for things like the WSOP. imagine having satellites running constantly that you could play in any harrah's property throughout vegas. after trying a couple of live STT at the WSOP last year, this would be great, and not take any tables away from the tourney/cash games.

[LuckyTxGuy]

Actually this is simply brilliant and I've been asking for several years why casinos where not already doing this with house games and slots. Poker didn't really cross my mind but playing slots, video poker, craps etc on the computer over the "intranet" while sitting in the room is simply brilliant.

Now let me say, I have no desire to do this. It doesn't sound fun to me at all. I love live B&M poker and would probably rarely play online if I lived next door to a poker room. BUT, Harrah's doesn't care if everyone thinks it's a hit, just as long as some people like it. The cost is relatively small considering the money they can make. Think about it, some guys wife gets tired and is bothered by all the smoke around the slots, she goes back up to the room and can watch tv and play some blackjack on the laptop at the same time! Brilliant.

A casino's main objective is to get you to give them your money in any way they can and intranet gambling is brilliant. As for poker...I can't imagine the sharks sitting in the room playing but alot of the more timid or first timers might give it a whirl? Who knows. I'm just saying I think Harrah's is on to something with the whole idea.

[emptyshell]

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If this is successful for them, would not be surprised if they start looking at shutting out other casinos (online or B&M) from qualifying people for the WSOP.


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Good point. Avoiding online or B&M casinos from paying people's way into the WSOP would cut down on the number of entries and money involved. That means less need for so many dealers, cocktail wattresses, and accountants. Expenses would go way down.

[grapabo]

If this still involves regulation of the equipment used in the gambling machinery, would this mean that the hard equipment creating the intranet poker would have to be housed in-state or in-casino? And if so, does this create cost-prohibitive problems for setting this up as long-term business plan?

Technologically speaking, I'm a chimp with fat fingers typing this, so maybe I'm thinking of a problem that doesn't exist. But the state regulations over the gambling machinery may be an impediment to this being a profitable avenue with or without other legal online gambing options.

[coachkf]

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If this is successful for them, would not be surprised if they start looking at shutting out other casinos (online or B&M) from qualifying people for the WSOP.


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Good point. Avoiding online or B&M casinos from paying people's way into the WSOP would cut down on the number of entries and money involved. That means less need for so many dealers, cocktail wattresses, and accountants. Expenses would go way down.

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Yessah. Smaller fields has gotta be the ultimate goal here. Reason? Lack of dumpster space after cleaning up post WSOP. Who cares if thousands of players are heading to your casino to plunk down 10k each? When you're out back, thigh deep in a dumpster, trying to pack the trash down enough to cram in one more bag, you start to rethink things like "the more people that come, the more money we make"...

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[Koss]

Wow, they've removed everything that's convenient about online poker, then removed everything fun about playing in a casino, and combined them together. Awesome.

Actually I hope it catches on, because anything that makes poker more popular is a good thing, but I don't see it happening.