Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | April 2011 38 experienced casino operators could stop cheats and insider theft. But the second state to legalise casinos, New Jersey, felt the market would take care of the problem. They reasoned, correctly, that dealer schools would open up and experienced operators would come from other parts of the world. Will there be a general amnesty, à la France, or will the door be slammed shut on everyone who might have been involved in even technically illegal gambling, as in New Jersey? It is difficult to predict who will win. Will there be a general amnesty, à la France, or will the door be slammed shut on everyone who might have been involved in even technically illegal gambling, as in New Jersey? The answer will determine the winners and losers. A company that took sports bets from the US will probably never get a licence. As for the others; the operators who are presently taking poker bets from the US include PokerStars, now partnered with Wynn; Absolute Poker, Full Tilt and Ultimate Bet—all with present name recognition. The operators who pulled out of the US would have to build back market share: PartyGaming-bwin, operator of Party Poker and the World Poker Tour, and 888 now with Caesars, which also owns the World Series of Poker. Less fortunate are those who never took bets from the US and therefore are unknown to Americans. I believe the Swedish company Entraction, who plans to enter the US market, is in this position. Is Wynn right? In the spirit of almost full disclosure, I have been hired as an expert witness by someone involved in a lawsuit with Wynn. But that doesn’t mean I would ever like to bet against anyone with as much foresight, and luck, as Steve Wynn. © Copyright 2010. Professor I. Nelson Rose is recognised as a leading authority on gambling law and is a consultant and expert witness for players, governments and industry. His latest books, INTERNET GAMING LAW (1st & 2nd editions), BLACKJACK AND THE LAW and GAMING LAW: CASES AND MATERIALS, are available through his website, www. GAMBLINGANDTHELAW.com. Gambling and the Law A Sure Bet Log onto www.asgam.com for the latest industry intelligence and a subscription to our digital edition—all absolutely free