April 27, 2009
A New Chance for Online Gambling in the U.S.
By ERIC PFANNER
PARIS — Is online gambling coming in from the cold?
When the U.S. Congress cracked down on Internet betting in 2006, the big, publicly traded European companies that had dominated the business closed up shop in the United States. Growth in the booming industry shifted away from these companies, once the darlings of the stock market, to private operators in offshore locations like Antigua and the Isle of Man.
But now, executives of some of the European companies whisper excitedly that they may soon get a second chance in the United States. Meanwhile, a number of European countries that have long maintained barriers are moving, under pressure from regulators, to legalize, and tax, online gambling.
“There’s still a lot of gambling going on, where there’s no revenue coming in to the governments,” said Gavin Kelleher, an analyst at the research firm H2 Gambling Capital in Ireland. “They realize they could use the revenue.”
The biggest potential change would be in the United States, where, perhaps within days, Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, is expected to introduce legislation aimed at overturning the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
“He supports the repeal and wants to move forward on it,” said Steve Adamske, communications director for the House Financial Services Committee, of which Mr. Frank is chairman.
Mr. Frank tried and failed to do so once before, in 2007. But advocates of liberalization think they might get a friendlier hearing in Washington this time around. President Barack Obama, they note, boasted of his poker prowess during the election campaign. And the Democrats, who are seen as less hostile to Internet gambling than the Republicans, have tightened their grip on Congress.
A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers says the U.S. government could raise more than $50 billion over 10 years from taxes on legalized online gambling.
“I’d be amazed if it didn’t happen over the next two or three years,” said Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, a trade group based in London. “It’s just a question of what exactly the regulations will say.”
Some analysts say that may be getting a little bit ahead of the game. Opponents of a repeal, including the Christian Coalition of America and the National Football League, have vowed to fight any new effort to end the ban.
Michele Combs, a spokeswoman for the Christian Coalition, said the group was gearing up for a “massive campaign” of letter-writing and lobbying to try to prevent any loosening of the law.
“We’re not saying people shouldn’t go to Las Vegas,” she said. “But when it’s in your home, it’s too easy. It breaks up families.”
U.S. sports leagues, meanwhile, worry that the ease of online betting increases the chances of game-fixing. Even the most bullish advocates of online gambling acknowledge that Internet sports betting — as opposed to poker or casino games — is highly unlikely to be legalized.
“There’s a better chance now for some sort of gaming legislation to be approved,” said Nick Batram, an analyst at KBC Peel Hunt, a brokerage firm in London. “But it took longer than expected to put anti-gaming legislation in place, and it will probably will take longer than expected to remove it.”
Since the 2006 law was passed, North America, once the biggest market, has been passed by Europe and Asia, according to figures from H2 Gambling Capital. The law makes it illegal for financial institutions to handle payments to online gambling sites. But enough people have found ways around it, some by using overseas payment processors, to ensure that online gambling remains a thriving business. H2 says online gambling generated revenue of $6 billion last year in North America, more than a quarter the global total of $22.6 billion, up from $17.6 billion in 2006.
Pulling out of the United States cost PartyGaming about three-quarters of its business. Its position as the biggest online poker provider has been taken over by PokerStars, a privately held operator based on the Isle of Man.
This month, PartyGaming agreed to a $105 million settlement with the U.S. attorney’s office in New York, involving the period before 2006, when it acknowledged that its activities had been “contrary to certain U.S. laws.” In turn, the U.S. authorities agreed not to prosecute the company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, or its executives.
The agreement fueled speculation that PartyGaming might be trying to position itself for a return to the U.S. market, if online gambling were legalized.
Analysts say one possibility for European companies like PartyGaming, should the ban be lifted, would be to form partnerships with American casino operators. That would allow the European companies to share their online expertise. Operating alone, they might struggle to obtain licenses, given their history of run-ins with U.S. law enforcement, analysts said.
“It’s my feeling that even if the market were opened up, the U.S. government, in a palatable way, would probably find a way to give local companies a favorable position,” Mr. Batram said.
So far, Las Vegas executives have maintained a cautious stance about legalization of online gambling. Steve Wynn, chief executive of Wynn Resorts, said in an e-mail message that he thought it would be “impossible to regulate.”
“Even though it would be a benefit to our company, we are strongly opposed,” he said.
But speculation that Las Vegas casino operators were looking into the possibilities was fueled by recent reports that Harrah’s Entertainment, which owns Caesars Palace and other casinos, recently hired Mitch Garber, former chief executive of PartyGaming, for an unspecified role. Harrah’s did not return calls.
Mr. Ryan said that PartyGaming planned to focus on acquisition opportunities to increase its market share in Europe and elsewhere, something that was difficult as long as investors were worried about the U.S. litigation. “We think Mr. Frank’s efforts are quite meaningful to the sector,” he said.
Several other online gambling companies whose shares are traded in London, including 888 Holdings and Sportingbet, are still in talks with the U.S. Justice Department. Analysts expect them, along with companies like Bwin International, whose stock is traded in Vienna, to be involved in a round of consolidation in the industry — along with a possible eventual move back into the United States.
As they await developments in Washington, online gambling companies are looking for growth in Europe and Asia. Under pressure from regulators in Brussels, several European Union members, including France, Italy, Spain and Denmark, have been moving to legalize some kinds of online gambling, turning it into a regulated and taxed business. Britain was the first big European country to do so, in 2005.
Other countries, like Germany, Greece and the Netherlands, continue to hold out, though, in what the European Commission sees as an effort to protect government-sponsored gambling monopolies from private competition.
The commission in March published a report arguing that the United States was violating World Trade Organization rules by keeping out European online gambling companies, given that online betting on horse racing is permitted in the United States. But the commission said that it favored negotiations, rather than legal action, to end the dispute.
Also in March, however, the European Parliament adopted a separate measure supporting the right of individual E.U. member states to make their own rules on online gambling.
“It’s interesting that the European Commission is telling the U.S. it’s persecuting European companies when it can’t even get its own house sorted out,” Mr. Batram said.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Bodog Takes on Asia
European News
Bodog Takes on Asia
Bodog Casino
MANILA, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Bodog announced today that it has signed an exclusive brand license agreement with Asian online gaming operator Haydock Sports Limited.
Headquartered in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, Haydock Sports is led by Managing Director Ian Dunning. Prior to assuming the helm at Haydock, Mr. Dunning was Managing Director Asia at Victor Chandler, and he brings a world-class team and vast regional experience and expertise to the table. "We know that Bodog was considering a number of potential licensees, but we were confident that Haydock would emerge from the exhaustive diligence process as the premier choice of partners in the region," says Dunning. "Obviously, we were pleased to be right."
The license arrangement between the Antiguan Bodog organization (www.bodog.ag) and Haydock provides an exclusive license to the Bodog brand for online gaming within Asia, and access to an immense portfolio of creative assets and resources. Moreover, the agreement provides mechanisms to cross-license proprietary technologies that will benefit both parties and, ultimately, their customers.
"The Haydock team brings over a century of industry experience, coupled with deep regional expertise. Asia is not a market for the faint of heart, but we are absolutely confident that the fusion of the powerful Bodog brand and technologies with our infrastructure and expertise will be simply unstoppable. The synergies are tremendous."
Haydock Sports has been operating in Asia since 2006 under the authority of an Interactive Gaming License issued by First Cagayan pursuant the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. More recently, Haydock launched www.9play.com, which offers cutting-edge Sportsbook and Casino products in Chinese and in English to the Asian market.
"We expect to have a Bodog suite of products in-market prior to the start of the next European football season," says Dunning. "The excitement of the staff and of our partners to the news has, frankly, been overwhelming - the game is about to change in Asia."
About Bodog
Bodog has its head office, and is licensed in, the Caribbean nation of Antigua. The Bodog group of companies includes an online Sportsbook, Casino, Poker Room and a suite of other world-class gaming products. Bodog does not offer "for money" gaming services in North America. Gaming services offered and operated in North America under the Bodog brand are made available exclusively by Morris Mohawk Gaming Group.
About Haydock Sports Limited
Haydock Sports is a premier online gaming operation dedicated to players in the Asian market. Licensed to offer gaming services worldwide pursuant to the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, Haydock is headquartered in Manila and is led by its Managing Director and industry veteran Ian Dunning. Haydock's management team brings more than a century of experience in the development and operation of online gaming products, and a wealth Asian expertise. Haydock currently operates http://www.9play.com targeting the Asian market in both the Chinese and English languages, offering an array of games and betting opportunities including running ball on most major matches, world-class sports betting, and a live dealer casino providing the best in Baccarat, Sic Bo, Roulette and Crazy21 Blackjack.
http://www.bodog.ag
http://www.9play.com
Contact Information: Bodog Media Relations, PR@bodoglife.com; Haydock Sports Limited, Media Relations, PR@9play.com
Bodog Takes on Asia
Bodog Casino
MANILA, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Bodog announced today that it has signed an exclusive brand license agreement with Asian online gaming operator Haydock Sports Limited.
Headquartered in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, Haydock Sports is led by Managing Director Ian Dunning. Prior to assuming the helm at Haydock, Mr. Dunning was Managing Director Asia at Victor Chandler, and he brings a world-class team and vast regional experience and expertise to the table. "We know that Bodog was considering a number of potential licensees, but we were confident that Haydock would emerge from the exhaustive diligence process as the premier choice of partners in the region," says Dunning. "Obviously, we were pleased to be right."
The license arrangement between the Antiguan Bodog organization (www.bodog.ag) and Haydock provides an exclusive license to the Bodog brand for online gaming within Asia, and access to an immense portfolio of creative assets and resources. Moreover, the agreement provides mechanisms to cross-license proprietary technologies that will benefit both parties and, ultimately, their customers.
"The Haydock team brings over a century of industry experience, coupled with deep regional expertise. Asia is not a market for the faint of heart, but we are absolutely confident that the fusion of the powerful Bodog brand and technologies with our infrastructure and expertise will be simply unstoppable. The synergies are tremendous."
Haydock Sports has been operating in Asia since 2006 under the authority of an Interactive Gaming License issued by First Cagayan pursuant the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. More recently, Haydock launched www.9play.com, which offers cutting-edge Sportsbook and Casino products in Chinese and in English to the Asian market.
"We expect to have a Bodog suite of products in-market prior to the start of the next European football season," says Dunning. "The excitement of the staff and of our partners to the news has, frankly, been overwhelming - the game is about to change in Asia."
About Bodog
Bodog has its head office, and is licensed in, the Caribbean nation of Antigua. The Bodog group of companies includes an online Sportsbook, Casino, Poker Room and a suite of other world-class gaming products. Bodog does not offer "for money" gaming services in North America. Gaming services offered and operated in North America under the Bodog brand are made available exclusively by Morris Mohawk Gaming Group.
About Haydock Sports Limited
Haydock Sports is a premier online gaming operation dedicated to players in the Asian market. Licensed to offer gaming services worldwide pursuant to the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, Haydock is headquartered in Manila and is led by its Managing Director and industry veteran Ian Dunning. Haydock's management team brings more than a century of experience in the development and operation of online gaming products, and a wealth Asian expertise. Haydock currently operates http://www.9play.com targeting the Asian market in both the Chinese and English languages, offering an array of games and betting opportunities including running ball on most major matches, world-class sports betting, and a live dealer casino providing the best in Baccarat, Sic Bo, Roulette and Crazy21 Blackjack.
http://www.bodog.ag
http://www.9play.com
Contact Information: Bodog Media Relations, PR@bodoglife.com; Haydock Sports Limited, Media Relations, PR@9play.com
Bodog regains control of Bodog.com
Bodog regains control of Bodog.com
21 April 2009
By Dan Igo
Bodog Casino
Online casino Bodog has reacquired the bodog.com domain name after settling a patent infringement lawsuit with 1st Technology LLC this week. The Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG), which operates the Bodog brand in North America, negotiated deal with 1st Technology.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to return the Bodog experience to its rightful home - the reaction of staff and key suppliers has been thunderous," said Alwyn Morris, CEO of the MMGG in a statement in announcing the deal.
The settlement also ends the long-running patent dispute between 1st Technology and Bodog and covers the use of core multimedia patents for advanced gaming products.
In the original lawsuit, 1st Technology alleged the online gaming company was illegally using a "method and system for interactively transmitting multimedia information over a network which requires a reduced bandwidth," according to court documents.
Bodog lost most of its Bodog.com domain names in August of 2007 after failing to appear in court to defend itself or challenge the $48 million judgment ordered by Judge Roger L. Hunt.
Bodog has been operating under the bodoglife.com domain since September of that year.
The return of the bodog.com domain promises to have a significant impact on Bodog's worldwide business, Morris added in his statement.
"We will be transitioning the MMGG site to this domain over the coming weeks," Morris explained in his statement. "Moreover, we have only just this morning inked a deal with Bodog Antigua, from whom we license the Bodog brand. Under this contract, outside of our brand license territory, the www.bodog.com domain will be redirected to the other brand licensees' sites, as appropriate. One domain, worldwide."
Keith McDonnell, managing director of Bodog Europe, was also pleased with the settlement.
"As the 'Bodog' brand licensee for Europe, we are ecstatic to see the return of www.bodog.com," he said. "Working with the MMGG and the other licensees, geo-targeting will be used to ensure visitors outside of the MMGG's territory are directed to the correct site, including ours (www.bodoglife.co.uk). This way, the marketing efforts of every licensee to promote www.bodog.com benefit us all, ultimately reinforcing and strengthening the global brand. It will absolutely be a win-win-win solution."
21 April 2009
By Dan Igo
Bodog Casino
Online casino Bodog has reacquired the bodog.com domain name after settling a patent infringement lawsuit with 1st Technology LLC this week. The Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG), which operates the Bodog brand in North America, negotiated deal with 1st Technology.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to return the Bodog experience to its rightful home - the reaction of staff and key suppliers has been thunderous," said Alwyn Morris, CEO of the MMGG in a statement in announcing the deal.
The settlement also ends the long-running patent dispute between 1st Technology and Bodog and covers the use of core multimedia patents for advanced gaming products.
In the original lawsuit, 1st Technology alleged the online gaming company was illegally using a "method and system for interactively transmitting multimedia information over a network which requires a reduced bandwidth," according to court documents.
Bodog lost most of its Bodog.com domain names in August of 2007 after failing to appear in court to defend itself or challenge the $48 million judgment ordered by Judge Roger L. Hunt.
Bodog has been operating under the bodoglife.com domain since September of that year.
The return of the bodog.com domain promises to have a significant impact on Bodog's worldwide business, Morris added in his statement.
"We will be transitioning the MMGG site to this domain over the coming weeks," Morris explained in his statement. "Moreover, we have only just this morning inked a deal with Bodog Antigua, from whom we license the Bodog brand. Under this contract, outside of our brand license territory, the www.bodog.com domain will be redirected to the other brand licensees' sites, as appropriate. One domain, worldwide."
Keith McDonnell, managing director of Bodog Europe, was also pleased with the settlement.
"As the 'Bodog' brand licensee for Europe, we are ecstatic to see the return of www.bodog.com," he said. "Working with the MMGG and the other licensees, geo-targeting will be used to ensure visitors outside of the MMGG's territory are directed to the correct site, including ours (www.bodoglife.co.uk). This way, the marketing efforts of every licensee to promote www.bodog.com benefit us all, ultimately reinforcing and strengthening the global brand. It will absolutely be a win-win-win solution."
Bodog.com is Back!
Press Release Source: Bodog
Bodog.com is Back!
Tuesday April 21, 2009
Bodog Casino
KAHNAWAKE, Canada and ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, April 21 /CNW/ -- Bodog and the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (www.morrismohawk.com) announced today the finalization of a domain licensing agreement and the resurrection of the world-renowned www.bodog.com.
The MMGG acquired many valuable domains - including www.bodog.com - when it recently settled a patent case that had been ongoing in the United States. When asked why the MMGG stepped in, Mr. Alwyn Morris, Chief Executive for the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group noted, "While the MMGG was not the judgment debtor, the defendant supplier hadn't been operational since 2007 and there was therefore simply no possibility of their satisfying the default judgment. We are the exclusive licensee of the 'Bodog' brand within the region and so our business was impacted by anything that cast a shadow across the brand. We wanted to remove any residual uncertainty that this case had created, and we wanted to acquire the domains - it was a straightforward business decision."
"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to return the Bodog experience to its rightful home - the reaction of staff and key suppliers has been thunderous," says Mr. Morris. "We will be transitioning the MMGG site to this domain over the coming weeks. Moreover, we have only just this morning inked a deal with Bodog Antigua, from whom we license the Bodog brand. Under this contract, outside of our brand license territory, the www.bodog.com domain will be redirected to the other brand licensees' sites, as appropriate. One domain, worldwide."
Keith McDonnell, Managing Director of Bodog Europe noted, "As the 'Bodog' brand licensee for Europe, we are ecstatic to see the return of www.bodog.com. Working with the MMGG and the other licensees, geo-targeting will be used to ensure visitors outside of the MMGG's territory are directed to the correct site, including ours (www.bodoglife.co.uk). This way, the marketing efforts of every licensee to promote www.bodog.com benefit us all, ultimately reinforcing and strengthening the global brand. It will absolutely be a win-win-win solution."
Mr. Morris added, "The MMGG and the other Bodog licensees are experiencing tremendous momentum right now, and we are confident that this will only add fuel to the remarkable growth and expansion of the businesses. The brand is stronger than ever and a new day is dawning - everyone feels it."
Bodog.com is back!
About Bodog
Bodog has its head office in the Caribbean nation of Antigua. Bodog licenses the Bodog brand to a variety of brand licensees for an array of products worldwide. The Bodog group of brand licensees currently includes an online Sportsbook, Casino, Poker Room and a suite of other world-class gaming products.
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG) is the exclusive licensee of the "Bodog" brand for online gaming services in the United States and is led by Alwyn Morris, Olympic gold medalist, Order of Canada recipient, noted Canadian sportsman, First Nations leader and former Associate Director for the Mohawk Council of Chiefs in Kahnawake. MMGG is located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake - part of the seven communities that make up the Mohawk Nation - just outside Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission to offer gaming services from Kahnawake to users worldwide. The Antiguan-based Bodog organization has entered into a licensing agreement with MMGG to allow this group to use various elements of the Bodog brand within North America to support MMGG's marketing activities. For more information, visit www.morrismohawk.com.
For further information
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group, 1-866-533-2524, pr@morrismohawk.com
or Bodog, PR@bodog.ag Web Site: http://www.bodog.com http://www.morrismohawk.com
1st Technology / Bodog Patent Dispute Resolved
Press Release Source: 1st Technology, LLC
1st Technology/Bodog Patent Dispute Resolved
April 21, 2009
Bodog Casino
LAS VEGAS, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- 1st Technology, LLC and the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group have reached a resolution of all litigation relating to 1st Technology's judgment secured against the Costa Rican entity Data Entry and Domain Management S.A. (f.k.a. Bodog Entertainment Group S.A.).
This settlement ends the series of 1st Technology's lawsuits addressing the alleged use of patents in the 1st Technology portfolio. The settlement also resolves 1st Technology's judgment collection efforts.
The agreement also covers core multimedia patents for advanced gaming products. The 1st Technology patents, developed by early multimedia pioneer Dr. Scott Lewis, CEO of 1st Technology, are targeted at providing enhanced interactivity and optimized delivery of high quality multimedia information over various bandwidth networks including narrowband and broadband telephone, cable, and wireless Internet.
"While the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group was not the judgment debtor, the MMGG is the exclusive licensee of the 'Bodog' brand within the region and, as such, activities that impact the brand necessarily impact our businesses. We are pleased to have worked constructively with 1st Technology and its principals to bring an end to this protracted dispute. This resolution will provide certainty and will also allow us to continue to enhance our technology base for online gaming in order to provide our users with unfettered access to the best technology," said Mr. Alwyn Morris, Chief Executive for the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group. 1st Technology's Dr. Scott Lewis commented on the agreement, stating, "We are pleased to have finally resolved this dispute, and applaud Mr. Morris for his proactive and constructive approach."
About 1st Technology
1st Technology LLC is a leading technology company with a patent portfolio of advanced Internet and multimedia innovations. In addition, 1st Technology is active in software development and the commercialization of new technology. 1st Technology is headed by Internet pioneer Dr. Scott Lewis who led the development of the world's first single integrated circuit chip with on-board video and audio compression, advanced adaptive digital signal processing technology at Oxford University, and introduced multiple broadband Internet and multimedia technologies. Among 1st Technology's licensees are many industry leaders active in high performance multimedia applications.
About Dr. Lewis
Dr. Lewis received his B.S. and M.S. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, his doctorate from Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG) is the exclusive licensee of the "Bodog" brand for online gaming services in North America and is led by Alwyn Morris, Olympic gold medalist, Order of Canada recipient, noted Canadian sportsman, First Nations leader and former Associate Director for the Mohawk Council of Chiefs in Kahnawake. MMGG is located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake - part of the seven communities that make up the Mohawk Nation - just outside Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission to offer gaming services from Kahnawake to users worldwide. The Antiguan-based Bodog organization has entered into a licensing agreement with MMGG to allow this group to use various elements of the Bodog brand within North America to support MMGG's marketing activities. For more information, visit http://www.morrismohawk.com.
Contact:
For 1st Technology LLC:
Mr. William W. Flachsbart
Flachsbart & Greenspoon, LLC
Tel. (312) 431-3800
e-mail: wwf@fg-law.com
URL: http://www.fg-law.com
For Morris Mohawk Gaming Group:
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group
Media Relations
pr@morrismohawk.com
URL: http://www.morrismohawk.com
1st Technology/Bodog Patent Dispute Resolved
April 21, 2009
Bodog Casino
LAS VEGAS, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- 1st Technology, LLC and the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group have reached a resolution of all litigation relating to 1st Technology's judgment secured against the Costa Rican entity Data Entry and Domain Management S.A. (f.k.a. Bodog Entertainment Group S.A.).
This settlement ends the series of 1st Technology's lawsuits addressing the alleged use of patents in the 1st Technology portfolio. The settlement also resolves 1st Technology's judgment collection efforts.
The agreement also covers core multimedia patents for advanced gaming products. The 1st Technology patents, developed by early multimedia pioneer Dr. Scott Lewis, CEO of 1st Technology, are targeted at providing enhanced interactivity and optimized delivery of high quality multimedia information over various bandwidth networks including narrowband and broadband telephone, cable, and wireless Internet.
"While the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group was not the judgment debtor, the MMGG is the exclusive licensee of the 'Bodog' brand within the region and, as such, activities that impact the brand necessarily impact our businesses. We are pleased to have worked constructively with 1st Technology and its principals to bring an end to this protracted dispute. This resolution will provide certainty and will also allow us to continue to enhance our technology base for online gaming in order to provide our users with unfettered access to the best technology," said Mr. Alwyn Morris, Chief Executive for the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group. 1st Technology's Dr. Scott Lewis commented on the agreement, stating, "We are pleased to have finally resolved this dispute, and applaud Mr. Morris for his proactive and constructive approach."
About 1st Technology
1st Technology LLC is a leading technology company with a patent portfolio of advanced Internet and multimedia innovations. In addition, 1st Technology is active in software development and the commercialization of new technology. 1st Technology is headed by Internet pioneer Dr. Scott Lewis who led the development of the world's first single integrated circuit chip with on-board video and audio compression, advanced adaptive digital signal processing technology at Oxford University, and introduced multiple broadband Internet and multimedia technologies. Among 1st Technology's licensees are many industry leaders active in high performance multimedia applications.
About Dr. Lewis
Dr. Lewis received his B.S. and M.S. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, his doctorate from Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG) is the exclusive licensee of the "Bodog" brand for online gaming services in North America and is led by Alwyn Morris, Olympic gold medalist, Order of Canada recipient, noted Canadian sportsman, First Nations leader and former Associate Director for the Mohawk Council of Chiefs in Kahnawake. MMGG is located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake - part of the seven communities that make up the Mohawk Nation - just outside Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission to offer gaming services from Kahnawake to users worldwide. The Antiguan-based Bodog organization has entered into a licensing agreement with MMGG to allow this group to use various elements of the Bodog brand within North America to support MMGG's marketing activities. For more information, visit http://www.morrismohawk.com.
Contact:
For 1st Technology LLC:
Mr. William W. Flachsbart
Flachsbart & Greenspoon, LLC
Tel. (312) 431-3800
e-mail: wwf@fg-law.com
URL: http://www.fg-law.com
For Morris Mohawk Gaming Group:
Morris Mohawk Gaming Group
Media Relations
pr@morrismohawk.com
URL: http://www.morrismohawk.com
Smaller Risk of Addiction in Web Gambling
News
Smaller Risk of Addiction in Web Gambling
Internet gamers are more likely to regulate betting; less likely to become addicted
Published On 4/19/2009
By LAURA M. FONTANILLS
Contributing Writer
Going all-in? Not likely, if you gamble online.
A recent study conducted by the Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions suggests that the widespread availability of Internet gambling has not led to an increase in the number of people addicted to gambling.
Online Casinos
The study actually found that gamblers who visit gaming Web sites are more likely to self-regulate their betting behavior based on their pattern of wins and losses.
Those who are addicted to gambling do not exhibit such control.
The study began in February 2005 and observed 3,445 subscribers to BWIN, an Austria-based gaming Web site. The participants’ poker outcomes were analyzed over the course of two years, and the number of chips they bought and sold per session was tallied.
The study, which investigated online gambling as “a potential object of addictive behavior,” concluded that the availability of Internet gambling is not correlated to gambling addiction.
“The very first thing we learned, which we didn’t expect, was that the vast majority, the overwhelming majority, of gamblers online gamble in a very moderate and mild way,” said HMS Associate Professor of Psychology Howard Shaffer in an interview with Gambling Online Magazine.
Approximately 95 percent of players studied only bought a median of about $15.65 in chips at two poker sessions per week.
“A minority of most involved players did not show such moderation,” the study noted. The remaining 5 percent of players studied bet in excess, buying a median of $116.13 in chips at 10 sessions per week.
Although the number of people participating in online gambling is contested, the study showed that the percentage of problem gamblers has barely changed since the 1970s, hovering around 0.6 percent of the United States population.
Andrew M. Woods, the executive director of Harvard Law School’s Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society, said he did not find the results of the study surprising.
He asserted that poker is less like gambling and more like “risk assessment.”
According to Woods, other casino games, such as blackjack, have a built-in advantage towards the house, making it less likely for players to win money.
“There is no house in poker, so no one is guaranteed to win,” Woods said.
“Poker exercises your ability to make good decisions,” he said, reflecting on the mild betting habits of online players.
Smaller Risk of Addiction in Web Gambling
Internet gamers are more likely to regulate betting; less likely to become addicted
Published On 4/19/2009
By LAURA M. FONTANILLS
Contributing Writer
Going all-in? Not likely, if you gamble online.
A recent study conducted by the Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions suggests that the widespread availability of Internet gambling has not led to an increase in the number of people addicted to gambling.
Online Casinos
The study actually found that gamblers who visit gaming Web sites are more likely to self-regulate their betting behavior based on their pattern of wins and losses.
Those who are addicted to gambling do not exhibit such control.
The study began in February 2005 and observed 3,445 subscribers to BWIN, an Austria-based gaming Web site. The participants’ poker outcomes were analyzed over the course of two years, and the number of chips they bought and sold per session was tallied.
The study, which investigated online gambling as “a potential object of addictive behavior,” concluded that the availability of Internet gambling is not correlated to gambling addiction.
“The very first thing we learned, which we didn’t expect, was that the vast majority, the overwhelming majority, of gamblers online gamble in a very moderate and mild way,” said HMS Associate Professor of Psychology Howard Shaffer in an interview with Gambling Online Magazine.
Approximately 95 percent of players studied only bought a median of about $15.65 in chips at two poker sessions per week.
“A minority of most involved players did not show such moderation,” the study noted. The remaining 5 percent of players studied bet in excess, buying a median of $116.13 in chips at 10 sessions per week.
Although the number of people participating in online gambling is contested, the study showed that the percentage of problem gamblers has barely changed since the 1970s, hovering around 0.6 percent of the United States population.
Andrew M. Woods, the executive director of Harvard Law School’s Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society, said he did not find the results of the study surprising.
He asserted that poker is less like gambling and more like “risk assessment.”
According to Woods, other casino games, such as blackjack, have a built-in advantage towards the house, making it less likely for players to win money.
“There is no house in poker, so no one is guaranteed to win,” Woods said.
“Poker exercises your ability to make good decisions,” he said, reflecting on the mild betting habits of online players.
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