Speculation Mounts on Harrah's Online Poker EntryFormer Party Gaming Chief to Head Internet Operations at Harrah's |
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Harrah’s, owner of the World Series of Poker brand, is set to announce the appointment of former Party Gaming CEO Mitch Garber as head of its internet operations and the WSOP brand according to the Sunday Times today.
The report claims the troubled gaming giant will spin these businesses off into a separate entity, fuelling speculation that the 
company is readying itself for a possible repeal of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act and could be positioning itself for acquisitions in the online gaming and poker sector.
In 2007 Gary Loveman, CEO at Harrah's, indicated the company would be eager to move into the online poker and gaming market.
Harrah’s Entertainment bought the rights to the WSOP in 2004 and then moved the tournament series over to the Rio, where it remains today.
Just last week Party Gaming, owner of Party Poker, once the world's largest online poker room, settled with U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for $105 million. The settlement included a non-prosecution agreement which would allow Party Poker to re-enter the market if the legal landscape changes.
Congressmen Barney Frank and Jim McDermott will reintroduce pro-online poker legislaiton in the coming weeks and hopes are rising that the bills will could change the landscape for online poker in the U.S., paving the way for re-entry of many European operators as well as re-energising the indigenous industry.
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