I just got back from the Rio and I am stunned

sean1 · Jul 30, 2006

Evidently, Harrah's is not at all concerned about aiding and abetting offshore gaming.

I thought there would be a few ads and some women handing out business cards. Give me a break. This is the largest mall of offshore wagering you have ever seen.

Every company that is a company (Most unusual was pokersyndicate.com - where they think it is a good idea for you to own the site) that has anything to do with online poker is there. And sportsbooks are there too.

Now there are not just signs - oh no. Each company has their own room complete with drinks, appetizers, and computers where you too can play poker for prizes, seats at the WSOP, etc.

Most companies use the .net although it seems it can be as small as you want. A few have gone so far as to put it backwards or vertical so you dont notice it.

And a few don't even use .net anymore. Bodog and Pokerstars just go with their name and no indication that they are online.

Now what I truly don't get is it is ok to have a shirt that says Bodog but if it says bodog.com it is a finable offense.

And finally, Betus has a whole race car there - werent they part of the BOS group? I guess not.

Either the DOJ does not know the biggest online gambling event of the year is going on, they do not care, or Harrahs has paid an astronomical fee to be left alone.

-Sean

Dante · Jul 30, 2006

sean the WSOP is going on...if the DOJ wanted to shut that down easily due to online ads all over the place they could...but they are not says alot to me about them just having a hard on for BOS and kaplan and david like many people say

JMHO

sean1 · Jul 30, 2006

I agree.

I doubted they would shut down the WSOP and bust individual players, but I was very surprised by the advertising Harrahs took. It is like a big kids offshore gambling amusement park. I'm heading over now to pick up some lunch and cocktails!

-Sean

Kiss1 · Jul 30, 2006

I was there for the senior event, really fun stuff, gets bigger every year. Make sure you use the WSOP Poker Valet if its not full. It takes forever to walk to the Convention Center from main Valet.

WildBill · Jul 30, 2006

Sean,

The NGC told them they consider .net sites legal as long as there is no linkage between the "real" sites and the .net site. There are some assholes around this town that want to shut these down and ban them all, but that would be a monumental mistake. They would be playing the WSOP in some small ballroom and there wouldn't be all the ads on the taxis around town either if they cut off the offshores. If Harrah's was really enforcing it, they wouldn't let the offshores have online satellites for seats and the entries would shrink to maybe less than half of what they are getting as a result.

Yeah its kind of ironic they let it all go on, but now they need it as much as the offshores need these big shows to drive up play levels.

Journeyman · Jul 30, 2006

.net is the way around it, as most will play for real with the .com

When you see BoDog on the TV ads for poker, it's .net too.

Whoson1st · Jul 30, 2006

.net
.com

They didn't teach computers when I was in school. Is this another legal escape?

Hip Hip Hooray! :dancefool

arty:

TTinCO · Jul 30, 2006

Oh yeah-definite legal loophole, at least for now.

I suspect that they also are forced to show the "This is not a gambling site" disclaimer.

Sugarbear · Jul 30, 2006

In addition to Wild Bills great post Harrahs is on the approved companies list and is exempt from the demonizing effects of the goverment. This also includes the MGM/Mirage. See Terri Lanni and Gary Loveman for further questions. Remember billionairs sit right behind them with the same agenda and they have there eyes on you. Theres nothing left in the world that they dont pretty much already own so your next.

BAGIANT · Jul 30, 2006

Harrah's couldn't be shut down because the WSOP is a legal event. The fact that offshores advertise there doesn't mean a thing to the DOJ. Look at the big shindig that Bodog put on at the Wynn...even though Ayres didn't appear.

WildBill · Jul 30, 2006

stuckinvegas said:
Harrah's couldn't be shut down because the WSOP is a legal event. The fact that offshores advertise there doesn't mean a thing to the DOJ. Look at the big shindig that Bodog put on at the Wynn...even though Ayres didn't appear.

Oh really??? Why then have they threatened numerous media outfits with aiding and abetting by advertising?