US gambling execs call for legalisation

The reverberations from Black Friday are still being felt across the industry, especially in America, where the legal debacle has spurred many land industry execs into expressing their opinions on legalisation.
In some of the latest comments Ed Sutor, the president and CEO of horse racing company Dover Downs, told regional television station WBOC16 that he was surprised by the actions taken against individuals associated with three online poker companies by the Department of Justice.
“I was surprised, like most other people in the industry,” Sutor said. “I would bet in the next few years you would see Internet gambling legalised so I don’t know what precipitated it.”
Sutor added that he is looking at Dover Downs possible future options regarding online gaming.
“You can turn your head and ignore it, pretend it’s not happening and it could hurt you, or you could try and participate,” Sutor said. “We’re out there doing studies. We’re looking at it.”
The Associated Press news agency spoke with Jim Murren, chief executive of the giant land gambling firm MGM Resorts, on the issue when the company reported its latest financial results Wednesday.
Murren, who in the past has supported federal legalisation calls, said he agreed with Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, who recently wrote an op-ed article recommending that online poker be legalised .
“We believe that we have the proper approach and the only thing that’s happened in the last couple months is to reinforce our position on how Internet gaming should be regulated and pursued,” he said.

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