The Denver Post – Over the past two decades, as the Internet and technology boom altered how other brick-and-mortar businesses operated, the U.S. casino industry continued to generate virtually all of its gaming revenue offline.
That’s now changing state-by-state, and a domino effect is expected to soon take hold.
This year, three states legalized some form of online gambling within their borders, with New Jersey recently joining Nevada and Delaware to allow live Internet-based casinos.
Quietly, Colorado lawmakers and industry officials drafted legislation late last session to authorize Internet poker. Though that effort stalled, the industry says it will continue to explore the issue, with another push possible in 2014.
“This is something we are monitoring very closely,” said Troy Stremming, executive vice president of government relations for Pinnacle Entertainment, owner of Colorado’s largest casino, Ameristar Black Hawk.
“Internet gaming continues to evolve state-by-state, and through ever-changing technology,” Stremming said. “With respect to Colorado, when there is a piece of legislation to review, we can make decisions based on whether or not participation will be beneficial to the company.”
On the smartphone side, gambling giant MGM Resorts International last month released the first casino mobile app to offer real comps and rewards, such as free rooms and buffets, for gambling with play chips. The rewards are redeemable at 11 brick-and-mortar casinos in Las Vegas, such as Bellagio and the Mirage.
