Vegas casinos warming to idea of online gambling

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- As reported by KLAS-TV: "Strip casinos have been struggling lately to keep up their gaming revenues. Fewer people are visiting Las Vegas and that means even less are gambling. But could the cure for the downturn be reaching out to would-be gamblers in their own homes?

"Online gambling sites offer the same variety of games that most Strip casinos do -- from sports betting, to poker and even bingo. But current laws keep online gambling out of the U.S., something that many casinos supported. But some are now seeing it as an opportunity.

"The trip to the casino would be only a clink away, and the tables are filled with eager players. Online casinos have been giving gamblers a place to play without the trip to Las Vegas for years, but play is neither legal nor regulated.

"...When the sites first began in the 1990's, the big casinos feared they would take away players, but now they are seeing the possibilities. If the laws are changed, existing casinos would likely be licensed before foreign based sites, opening the door for big names like MGM and Harrah's to reach new gamblers.

"'Having legal online gaming would really help the Strip casinos with their marketing. It would help them find out who is gambling out there,' said David Schwartz with UNLV's Center for Gaming Research..."