US Casinos Record Some Missed Opportunity of Web Betting

In New York as reported by Reuters: "The U.S. casinos wish that they had some access to the ever growing world of gamblers that become more interested in placing online bets, with all this, some companies claim they are not losing customers in favor of the foreign operators that offer Web wagering."

"'It clearly is a gigantic opportunity,' declared Alan Feldman, spokesperson for U.S.-based MGM Mirage, the second-largest gaming operator in the world. 'And this amazing opportunity is being given to foreign companies right now.'"

"Because of the 1961 Wire law, that forbids interstate telephone betting that the U.S. Justice Department has said that this also applies to the Internet, thus making it illegal for U.S. companies to offer online gambling."

"Though the law is quite hard to implement on operators based abroad, that are luring a growing number of American gamblers to their Web sites, despite the best efforts of some U.S. lawmakers to snuff out the business."

"...The number of Americans that played on online casino sites, has doubled since 2005, and now is about 4 percent of the total adult population…"