Lobbying Internet Gambling in US

According to Congressional records, Internet gambling legislation attracted approximately $3.3 million in lobbying at the federal level during the second half of 2007.

The grassroots Poker Players Alliance (PPA) was the largest spender, budgeting $1.2 million to federal lobbying efforts throughout the period. Representing the interests of 935,000 members, the PPA supports efforts to regulate Internet poker and to have it exempt as a game of skill from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. The organization reported $780,000 of in-house expenses for lobbying conducted by Executive Director John Pappas in addition to another $420,000 paid to four DC-based firms.

The second largest spender is the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC), an industry association that has been lobbying for legislative reform since 1999. The group is composed of some of the global industry's most successful companies, including 888 Holdings, Full Tilt Poker and Playtech. The IGC spent a combined $490,000 with four DC-based lobbying firms in the second half of 2007.

Operator PartyGaming spent $220,000 independently and rival Sportingbet spent $80,000 independently.

Another group trying to influence policy at the federal level is the American Gaming Association (AGA). Composed of land-based casino operators and suppliers, the AGA is a proponent of legislation that would commission the National Academy of Sciences to study Internet gambling in order to determine the appropriate government response. The bill's sponsor is Nevada's Representative Shelley Berkley.

The AGA's report says the group is interested in a bill that would regulate and tax Internet gambling, as well as the the bill that would exempt skill games from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, but the group is not obliged to report what position it takes on issues. The AGA was neutral on the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.

The AGA reported $800,000 of in-house lobbying expenses during the last half of 2007. The sum went toward lobbying on two other issues besides Internet gambling: taxes and tourism. Additionally, the AGA paid $125,000 to DC-based Duberstein Group for lobbying on Internet gambling and tourism. Duberstein Group directed its efforts to the House of Representatives and the Department of the Interior.

AGA members Harrah's Entertainment, MGM Mirage and Station Casinos each hired their own lobbyists for independent representation on the issue.

Both the Family Research Council and the Christian Coalition of America devoted a portion of in-house lobbying spending toward Internet gambling opposition. Internet gambling is one of 16 broad issues on which the Family Research Council spent $40,000 trying to influence lawmakers. For the Christian Coalition Internet gambling was one of 15 issues on which it spent $300,000.

America's sports leagues hired lobbyists to ensure betting on their events remains illegal. Lobbyists reported contracts with the National Football League (NFL), the NFL Players Association, the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association. Horseracing industry bodies the American Horse Council and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association also lobbied on the issue, as did horserace betting operator Magna Entertainment. Federal legislation currently exempts remote wagering on horseraces in states where the activity is legal.

In all, federal lobbyists reported working for at least 25 different organizations on the issue of Internet gambling during the period.

The figure $3.3 million is an estimate. In cases where lobbyists reported working for an organization on a number of issues, I divided the lobbyists reported sum by the number of reported issues. For example, the AGA reported in-house expenses of $800,000 for lobbying on Internet gambling and two other issues. My figures assume that the funds were distributed equally across the three issues and estimate the spending on Internet gambling at $266,666.

All information can be verified through the Senate's Lobbying Disclosure Act Database: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/Public_Disclosure/LDA_reports.htm.

Note: The Lobbying Disclosure Act requires all lobbyists at the federal level to report all of their lobbying income and to specify whom they represent and on which particular issues. Organizations that use in-house staff to lobby must report their lobbying expenses. Reports must be filed every half-year and are made available to the public over the Internet.


American Gaming Association - $329,166 (estimated)

The American Gaming Association reported $800,000 of in-house lobbying expenses during the second half of 2007. The sum was distributed across three broad areas, one of which is:

Internet gaming HR 2046 Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007; HR 2140 to provide for a study by the National Academy of Sciences to identify the proper response of the United States to the growth of Internet gambling; HR 2607, Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2007; HR 2610, to amend subchapter IV of chapter 53 of Title 31, the United States Code, and Section 1084 of Title 18 of such Code to clarify the applicability of such provisions to games of skill.

President and CEO Frank Fahrenkopf and the three Vice Presidents of Government Affairs, Brett Hale, Walton Chalmers and Dorothy Jackson, are the individuals who acted as in-house lobbyists for the AGA on Internet gambling issues.

Additionally, the AGA paid $125,000 to DC-based Duberstein Group for lobbying services. The sum was distributed across two broad areas, one of which is Internet gambling policy, expressed in precisely the same terms as in its own report.

American Horse Council - $10,000 (estimated)

The AHC paid $20,000 to Davis & Harman LLP for lobbying services. The sum was distributed across two broad issues, including gambling, specifically:

"All proposals relating to Internet gambling; Proposals related to capital gains holding period and depreciation for horse and other tax proposals affecting the equine industry; Proposals relating to withholding on gambling winnings"

Antigua Online Gaming Association - $120,000

The Antigua Online Gaming Association paid $120,000 to DC-based Black Swan LLC for lobbying services on:

HR 2046 a bill to provide for the licensing of Internet gambling facilities; Issues related to the Antigua/United States World Trade Organization dispute on remote gaming

Avatar Enterprises - $60,000

Avatar Enterprises paid $60,000 to DC-based Sher & Blackwell LLP for lobbying services on:

"Congressional Oversight and legislation regarding Internet gaming, including possible amendments to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006."

Baker Tilly - $140,000

Baker Tilly paid $140,000 to DC-based Alston & Bird LLP for lobbying services on:

"HR 2046, Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act; HR 2607 Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act."

Christian Coalition of America - $20,000 (estimated)

The Christian Coalition reported $300,000 of in-house lobbying expenses. The sum was distributed across 15 broad areas, one of which is:

"Opposition to H.R. 2046, Internet Gambling Regulation Enforcement Act"

Family Research Council - $2,500 (estimated)

The Family Research Council reported $40,000 of in-house lobbying expenses during the second half of 2007. The sum was distributed across 16 broad areas, one of which is:

"HR 2046- Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007- Federal license requirement for Internet gambling operators"

GTECH - $40,000

GTECH paid $40,000 to DC-based BKSH & Associates for lobbying services on:

"Internet Gambling Legislation"

Harrah's Entertainment - $33,333 (estimated)

Harrah's paid $100,000 to Alexandria, Virginia-based US Strategies for lobbying services. The sum was distributed across three broad issues, one of which is:

"HR 2610, Skill Gaming Protection Act; HR 2046 Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act; and HR 2140 Internet Gambling Study Act"

Interactive Amusement & Tournament Video Game Coalition - less than $10,000

The Coalition paid less than $10,000 to DC-based Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP for lobbying on:

"Internet gambling legislation"

Interactive Gaming Council - $490,000

The IGC paid $90,000 to DC-based Private Public Solutions LLC for lobbying services on:

"Issues related to Internet gambling reform"

The IGC also paid $60,000 to DC-based Mattox Woolfolk LLC for lobbying services on:

H.R. 2046

Mattox Woolfolk directed efforts to the House of Representatives.

The IGC also paid $300,000 to DC-based Greenberg Traurig for lobbying services on:

"Opposition to prohibition of Internet gambling"

The IGC also paid $40,000 to DC-based Patton Boggs for lobbying services on:

"Internet gaming definitions, regulations and study legislation"

Interactive Skill Games Association - $140,000

The Interactive Skill Games Association reports $80,000 of in-house lobbying expenses during the second half of 2007. The entire sum went toward:

"Issues related to the regulation of skill games, including H.R. 2610, H.R. 2046, H.R. 2607, H.R. 2140, and proposed Treasury/Federal Reserve rules to implement the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006"

Harlan Goodson acted as in-house lobbyist for the ISGA on Internet gambling issues.

The Interactive Skill Games Association also paid $60,000 to Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman for lobbying services on:

"Issues related to the regulation of skill games, including H.R. 2610, H.R. 2046, H.R. 2607, H.R. 2140, and proposed Treasury/Federal Reserve rules to implement the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006"

Magna Entertainment - $20,000 (estimated)

Magna paid $40,000 to DC-based DLA Piper US LLP for lobbying services. The sum was distributed across two broad issues, one of which is:

"HR 2046. Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act 2007; Regulations implementing Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act."

MGM Mirage - $13,333 (estimated)

MGM Mirage paid $160,000 to DC-based Cassidy and Associates for lobbying services. The sum was distributed across six broad issues, one of which is:

"HR 2176 - Bay Mills Indian Community Settlement Bill; HR 4115 - Sault St. Marie Bank of Chippewa Settlement Bill; HR 2046 - Internet Gaming Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007; HR 2140 - Internet Gaming Study Bill

National Basketball Association - $40,000 (estimated)

The NBA paid $280,000 to DC-based McGuirewoods Consulting for lobbying services. The sum was distributed across seven issues, one of which is:

"preserve federal ban on sports gambling and strengthen prohibition against Internet gambling"

National Collegiate Athletic Association - $20,000 (estimated)

The NCAA reports $100,000 of in-house lobbying expenses. The sum was distributed across five broad issues, one of which is:

"HR 2046 Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 (regarding Internet Gambling Licensing Program and regulating Internet gambling); Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act Regulations (regarding criminal prohibitions connected with Internet gambling); issues related to WTO General Agreement on Trade Services and gambling and betting services."

National Football League - $109,166 (estimated)

The NFL paid $655,000 to DC-based Covington & Burling LLP for lobbying services. The sum was distributed across six broad issues, one of which is:

"Internet Gambling"

National Football League Players Association - $20,000 (estimated)

The NFL's Players Association paid $60,000 to DC-based Baach Robinson & Lewis for lobbying services. The sum was distributed across three broad issues, one of which is:

"HR 2046- Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (Fantasy Sports exemption); HR 2607 Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act (Fantasy Sports exemption)"

National Thoroughbred Racing Association - $13,333 (estimated)

The NTRA paid $40,000 to DC-based Davis & Harman LLP for lobbying services on:

"Proposals relating to capital gains holding period and depreciation for horses and other tax proposals affecting the equine industry; Proposals relating to Internet gambling; Withholding taxes on gambling winnings."

Office of the Commissioner of Baseball - $84,000 (estimated)

The Commissioner's office paid $420,000 to DC-based Baker Hostetler LLP lobbying services. The sum was distributed across five broad issues, one of which is:

"Internet gambling issues affecting Major League Baseball"

PartyGaming - $220,000

PartyGaming paid $120,000 to DC-based Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker for lobbying services on:

"Congressional oversight and legislation regarding Internet gaming; H.R. 2046 the "Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007"

PartyGaming also paid $100,000 to DC-based Parry Romani Deconcini & Symms for lobbying services on:

"Track and monitor legislation with potential impact on the gaming industry. HR 2045 - Internet Gambling Enforcement Act; HR 2610 - Skill Game Protection Act"

Poker Players Alliance - $1.2 million

The PPA reports $780,000 of in-house lobbying expenses on:

"Representing the public policy interests of adult poker players in the United States, HR 2046 - The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act; Lobby to support regulated Internet poker in the U.S, HR 2610 - The Skill Game Protection Act; Lobby to exempt poker and other games of skill from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act"

Executive Director John Pappas is the individual who acted as in-house lobbyist for the PPPA.

Additionally, the PPA paid $240,000 to DC-based Ogilvy Government Relations for lobbying on:

HR 2046 - The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007; HR 2140 - Internet Gambling Study Act; HR 2610 - The Skill Game Protection Act; Issues related to online poker.

The PPA also paid $40,000 to DC-based Barnes & Thornburg LLP for lobbying services on:

"general government representation, including but not limited to, legislative and regulatory initiatives involving Internet gambling"

The PPA also paid $80,000 to DC-based Patton Boggs LLC for lobbying services on:

"defining poker as a game of skill; legislation affecting poker players."

The PPA also paid $60,000 to DC-based Mattox Woolfolk LLC for lobbing services on:

HR 2046

Sportingbet - $80,000

Sportingbet paid $80,000 to DC-based Buchanan Ingersol & Rooney P.C. for lobbying services on:

"Gaming issues"

Station Casinos - $30,000 (estimated)

Station Casinos paid $60,000 to DC-based ML Stategies for lobbying services on:

"H.R. 2562 - Limitation on Tribal Gambling to Existing Tribal Lands Act of 2007- all provision; H.R. 2046 - Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007- all provisions"

UC Group - $140,000

UC Group paid $140,000 to Alston & Bird LLP for lobbing services on:

"HR 2046, Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act; HR 2607 Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act."

From the article:
$3.3 Mill Spent Lobbying I-gaming Policy in US, 2nd Half '07
by Bradley Vallerius

Online Gambling Enforcement Not Working

Barney Frank: "Online Gambling Enforcement Not Working"

Rep. Barney Frank reiterates his commitment that the proposed rules to enforce the Unlawful Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are “going nowhere.”

Rep. Frank’s statements were made in a letter to the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), which testified last week that U.S. financial services companies would face serious regulatory burdens if forced to enforce UIGEA and police for illegal Internet gambling activity.

Last week, Barney Frank held a hearing Wednesday looking to abolish the UIGEA that is essentially depriving the troubled US economy of billions in potential revenue. Frank's trump card hinged on "the murky language contained in the law". The UIGEA allows for some forms of online gambling while excluding others like Internet poker.

“I think it is very difficult without having a bright line about what is intended to be unlawful Internet gambling,” Louise Roseman, head of the Federal Reserve’s bank operations division, told lawmakers Wednesday.

“The challenge we have is interpreting something, particularly federal laws, that Congress themselves isn’t sure what they mean,” she said.

Frank has been a workhorse in Washington, addressing the mortgage meltdown, economic woes brought on by excluding billion dollar industries such as online gambling, and proposing other fiscally proper behaviors.

With Frank, it's indeed foreseeable we could have our first gay Jewish President of the United States come 2012. He might be a force in 2008 if he were actually running.

See Barney Frank's letter to credit unions here: Bfrank.pdf

SEX AND GAMING

There was a big controversial about relations between Sex and Gaming. Now science help to have a clear answer, but actually we have to say more precisely that beauty inspire mens to take more risk in gaming. Read the following article.

The slogan "sex sells" has been a statement of instinctive knowledge for many years, and it applies especially so in the world of casino gambling, where skimpily-dressed servers compete with exotic showgirls to distract players from their concentration. Now, science has proven that sexual stimuli do cause subjects to gamble more freely.

A study undertaken by Stanford University has found that heterosexual men, when confronted with erotic images, are more likely to tke financial risks, and to increase the size of the risk. Brian Knutson, assistant professor of psychology at Stanford, stated,"This is the first study to demonstrate that emotional stimuli can influence financial risk-taking."

Knutson found that, regardless of the particular bet being proposed or the history of the player in relation to the game, sexual imagery increased the likelihood of the subject wagering.

Knutson had previously demonstrated in a 2005 study that monitoring of brain activity could predict whether people were about to take financial risks; now he has proof that those decisions can be influenced by non-relevant stimuli.

Knutson also stated that the outside stimuli worked best in a situation involving time pressure; therefore, more so for a casino at a blackjack table than a used-car dealer, whose customer may take some time to think clearly.

If this study reaches the desks of casino management, it may be assumed casinos will emphasize eye candy more than ever, which allows those who lose money to at least have more memorable visuals from their entertainment. The bonding of strip clubs and Strip casinos may come soon, with any luck.

(Published on abril 5, 2008 by Tom Weston in Online Casino Advisory)

Game Theory Applied to Random Games

Game Theory (or Decision Theory) is a branch of applied mathematics which is used in the social sciences (most notably economics), biology, computer science and philosophy. Game theory attempts to mathematically capture behavior in strategic situations, where an individual's success in making choices depends on the choices of others. While initially developed to analyze competitions where one individual does better at another's expense (zero sum games), it has been expanded to treat a wide class of interactions, which are classified according to several criteria.

Traditional applications of game theory attempt to find equilibria in these games—sets of strategies where individuals are unlikely to change their behavior. Many equilibrium concepts have been developed (most famously the Nash equilibrium) in an attempt to capture this idea. These equilibrium concepts are motivated differently depending on the field of application, although they often overlap or coincide. This methodology is not without criticism, and debates continue over the appropriateness of particular equilibrium concepts, the appropriateness of equilibria altogether, and the usefulness of mathematical models more generally.

Usually Random Games like Video Slots are analized mathematically from the point of view of Probability Theory. Our hypothesis is players act with a mix of strategies depending of his personality to extend time or gain. From this point of view the behavior of the player psicologically it's like playing against some kind of rational machine, not random. For that reason we think Game Theory will be applicable.

I give you an example. One of the main theorem of the theory is Minimax (a method for minimizing the maximum possible loss) and the reverse, Maximin, maximizing the minimum gain. When a player plays maximum lines at minimum credits is playing a maximin strategy. There are more examples and variations. Also if the best players know the main features of the game (volatility, payout, hit frequency) can't predict in which point of random number cycle they are. So they make decisions based on the results of the lastest spins, in the same way as a interaction with other supposed player and also obviously depending of the kind of player they are.

In the future, data mining of tracking player can allow pattern recognition of relevant game strategy behavior. New slots can change par-sheet on the fly and will adapt to player expectations. Fuzzy Logic and Artificial Intelligence algorithms can help on that process.

The Network Centric Games (like Server Based Games) no more machine centric, will open huge possibilities for customer satisfaction and entertaining.

Gaming People to Watch

Global Gaming Business Magazine Releases 2008 '25 People to Watch'
Friday January 4, 9:00 am ET


LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Gaming Business Magazine this week released its feature story for the January 2008 edition, the "25 People to Watch" for 2008. One of the most prestigious honors in the gaming industry, the sixth annual "25 People to Watch" highlights individuals who will have major impacts on the gaming industry in the next year.

Headlining the annual cover story is Kazuo Okada, the chairman of Aruze Corp., and the vice chairman of Wynn Resorts Ltd. Rarely does one person develop expertise in both the supplier and the operator sectors of the gaming industry, but with Aruze, Okada leads a company at the forefront of gaming technology. And in his position with Wynn Resorts, Okada plays a major role in the success of one of gaming most important casino developers.


Others making the influential list are:

* Jim Allen, Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming
* Milo Borissov, Casino Technology
* Don Barden, Majestic Star Gaming
* Dan D'Arrigo, MGM Mirage
* Christie Eickelman, Gaming Laboratories International
* Rosalind Krause, Trump Taj Mahal
* Lam Yin (Jack) Lam, Jimei Group
* Steven Lim, RGB Distributing
* Enrique Lopez, Casinos de Catalunya
* Kelly McDougald, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.
* Virginia McDowell, Isle of Capri Casinos
* Kathleen McLaughlin-Harris, Las Vegas Sands Corp.
* Eric Meyerhofer, FutureLogic
* Kunal Mishra, Cadillac Jack
* Larry Pacey, WMS Gaming
* Justin Quis Quis, San Pasqual Gaming Commission
* Bruce Rowe, Bally Technologies
* Keith Smith, Boyd Gaming
* Jennifer Standing Bear, Million Dollar Elm Casino
* Lisa Tenner, Tenner & Associates
* Tony and Victor Tong, PacificNet
* Marlin Torguson, Torguson Gaming Group
* Pablo Zuppi, Diego Fiz and Sergio Maglio, Yogonet.com
* Dario Zutel, Win Systems International

Global Gaming Business is the leading trade magazine published monthly focusing on the casino gaming industry worldwide. Global Gaming Business is an official publication of the American Gaming Association and Global Gaming Expo (G2E). Global Gaming Business also publishes GGB Weekly, a comprehensive weekly e-news magazine; Tribal Government Gaming, an annual publication covering Indian gaming; Casino Design, an annual magazine covering design and construction trends in gaming; RD&E, an annual report on the non-gaming amenities in the casino and resort industries; and Casino Connection, two monthly magazines for employees and executives of the Atlantic City and Nevada gaming industries.

For more information on the "25 People to Watch" awards, contact Roger Gros at Global Gaming Business Magazine at 702-248-1565 x225 or rgros@ggbmagazine.com.

You can read the full article in Global Gaming Business Magazine

Pastor Poker

Spaniard Juan Manuel Pastor it's one of the best professional poker players. I meet him when was starting this professional activity, but he really play poker since 6 years old. He is one of the Masters. I want to recommend his Site and don't try to play with him...

The Site:

www.pastorpoker.com

His comments (in spanish) to UK Poker Open:

Videogames Troubles

Videogames it's a huge Industry. If you have been in the E3 Show in LA like me, you know what I'm saying. More and more gaming (and also gambling) it's getting a part of Entertainment Industry. That's the Wynn concept in Vegas. Games became a commodity of the Entertainment Industry. In fact, a lot of gamblers played for time. They want to waste the time playing. Others fall in some sort of addiction. That's the reason why, some people who don't play, hate Gaming. Videogames have similar detractors. Gambling Industry is more polite in his reactions, geeks don't. I give you a funny example.

(I hope nobody will be offended for the content)

Let's watch!

Breaking News

The following news will be crucial for Gaming Industry. The cooperation for a new competition with open gaming network standards is the key for the nest future.

As in Computer Industry now in Gaming the revolution of open protocolos architecture is coming. It's no longer a promise. Stay tuned!

22.02.2008 15:07
IGT and WMS Enter New Era of Cooperation for Networked Gaming and Affirm Commitment to Interoperability

LAS VEGAS and WAUKEGAN, Ill., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- International Game Technology (News) and WMS Industries Inc. entered a new era of cooperation today with an agreement that provides for a wide-ranging, non-exclusive cross-license of each other's intellectual property and patents associated with realizing the benefits of server-based gaming for their customers in an open architecture environment.

In addition, both companies affirmed their commitment for product interoperability and the advent of an enterprise-wide networked gaming environment. The agreement between IGT, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Game Technology, and WMS Gaming Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc., covers certain patents and intellectual property that address fundamental capabilities for computer and server-based infrastructure in the gaming industry, including IGT's Alcorn authentication and encryption patents. Both companies are members of the Gaming Standards Association (GSA) and are committed to the open architecture of the GSA standards and open network protocols.

"This agreement underscores the strong commitment by both companies to drive industry change, clearing the way to provide casino operators with significant new benefits and players with innovative gaming experiences enabled by the advanced technology of networked gaming," said Brian R. Gamache, President and Chief Executive Officer for WMS. "With this agreement, the foundation is in place to offer the next generation of innovative products personalized for players and unique, world-class applications and services for our customers that will drive enhanced financial returns."

TJ Matthews, Chief Executive Officer of IGT, said, "This agreement will provide the momentum for both companies to achieve their common vision -- a revolution in networked gaming applications, player features, and casino entertainment. The agreement accelerates the introduction of innovative, value-add applications previously announced by IGT and WMS, such as IGT's award-winning sb(TM) Service Window."

IGT is developing a complete set of individualized sb(TM) (server-based) products and services to maximize profitability across the entire casino enterprise. With IGT sb(TM) Products, operators will be able to weave in all their amenities for increased profitability.

Server Based Games, the new Buzzword in Gaming?

From two years ago the fever of Server Based Gaming seems to be over all slot machines manufacturers. All leading companies have invested millions of dollars with the adoption for new technology to enable a lot of benefits for all the gaming actors: operators, manufacturers, and of course, the final gambler that spins the reels.

The key point of this concept is the Web Based technology used to attach the floor machine to a server for, basically enabling the remote management of the slot machine and to donwload any content to the machine (EGM). This technology has been built on proven open standards: TCP/IP, SOAP and WSDL.

This new approach will enable the EGM (Game Terminal) to use interesting functionalities such as remote configuration, content download, secure cashless or bonusing. Most of them were already available with SAS, the predominant protocol used today in Casino floors, but the power of web based technologies will open a broad range of functionalities.

To see the whole article go to www.moisesprat.net

VEGAS JUNKERS

Junkers are an important part of the Gaming Industry in Casino field. They arrange expensives and luxury getaways to play for a percentage of the wagered amount. Perhaps their contribution to business is more a legend than a reality. Junkers legend it's a myth for gamblers that want to be rich and have their own manager. Casinos don't like professionals and high rollers, because are too risky. So Junker's job maybe is declining in Casinos around the World or maybe Vegas Junkers are different. We don't know: what happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas.

Let see a Junker in action:


Louis Theroux - Gambling In Las Vegas - BBC
If your are interested in the complete documentary you can found it on: www.youtube.com