Harrah's shuts down UK gambling web site

07.03.2005, Lesen Sie hier den Bericht über «Harrah's shuts down UK gambling web site».

It was called "Lucky Me"

(UK).- Harrah´s Entertainment Inc. has suspended the operations of an online gambling site based in the United Kingdom after posting losses of us$ 9.3 million last year. The move marks the second time a Las Vegas casino giant has tried and failed to tap into the lucrative Internet gambling market.


US casino operator posted losses of us$ 9.3 million last year with its online project.

The site, called Lucky Me, was introduced in November 2003 for British bettors and was suspended in October, the company disclosed Tuesday in its annual report to shareholders. "The site was discontinued because it was losing money," Harrah´s spokesman David Strow said.

Rather than the typical method of gambling for money, the web site allowed players to access as many games as possible - with new games offered every seven-and-a-half minutes- with a monthly subscription. Gamblers paid from about us$ 17 to us$ 84 per month for access to bingo and other games with cash prizes ranging from us$ 8.50 to us$ 1.7 million.

Lucky Me featured an identification process that prohibited bets from US residents as well as from other countries where Internet gambling is prohibited. The site was developed in partnership with Revahertz Networks, a Boston-based, privately-held software game developer that founded Gamesville, a games-for-prizes site that was sold to the Internet search engine Lycos in 1999.

Similarly, MGM Mirage in 2003 shut down a gambling web site that catered to UK and European customers. The site didn´t attract enough bettors because it prohibited bets from US bettors in order to comply with state and federal laws against Internet gambling.

Über Harrah's Operating Company, Inc.:

Founded in 1937, Harrah´s Entertainment, Inc. is the world´s largest casino operator.

We operate 28 casinos in 12 states under the Harrah´s, Harveys, Horseshoe, Rio, and Showboat brand names. Our goal is to provide great customer service in exciting and entertaining environments, and become your overwhelming first choice for casino entertainment.

We concentrate on building loyalty and value for our customers, shareholders, employees, business partners, and communities by being the most service- oriented, technology-driven, geographically-diversified company in gaming. Enjoy your visit to our site. We look forward to your comments about us.

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