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Harrah's, the Las Vegas casino giant, is looking to get into the online poker market. Sources close to the situation tell Gambling911.com that Harrah's will not be accepting bets from those individuals residing in the U.S. until which time the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act is overturned. Likewise, they won't be using software from any online poker firm currently taking bets from U.S. citizens.
"Harrah's will not be developing its own in-house poker software," the source told Gambling911.com this week. "They will be looking for an already established Internet poker network, one that's based out of Europe."
There are a number of such firms including Playtech, OnGame and - most interesting of all - PartyGaming.
It was revealed to Gambling911.com this past weekend that former Party boss, Mitch Garber, has been chosen to head up a newly created subsidiary focusing on Harrah's Web operations. Contrary to rumors that have been circulating in recent months, Mr. Garber has maintained "positive relations with PartyGaming" since departing that company late last year.
Also worth noting is the Garber announcement comes just days after PartyGaming settled with the US Government in order to avoid future prosecution for taking bets from Americans prior to passage of the UIGEA in October of 2006.
Harrah's has not yet entered into any agreement with an established online poker venture.
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
