Will PokerStars Buy Las Vegas ?

March 12, 2009

PokerStars, the world’s biggest online poker room has just announced their 20 millionth registered user. That is a phenominal achievement cementing PokerStars dominance in the online poker world. With over 36,000 players at pokerstars daily at peak times it’s over twice the size of Full Tilt Poker – its nearest competitor.

PokerStars Registers 20 Millionth Account

Now pokernewsdaily go on in their article above to make some interesting comparisions and perspective on just what a big number 20 million is –

20 million pokerstars signups = One in 15 of all U.S. residents OR The total population of the state of Texas OR The combined populations of New York, LA, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, and Philadelphia.

Now these are pretty staggering numbers – it doesn’t however mean 1 in 15 US citizens has a pokerstars account but I reckon 50-60% of pokerstars player base is US so thats still one hell of sizable % of the population that could make a powerful voting block and lobbying group.

Last week I rambled on about the potential downside of the new found enthusiasm for regulating online poker in the US. That US landbased casinos want to close out any competition via any new regulations.

US Poker Regulation – Will US respect the global market or create a protectionist closed shop ?

I think this is very definately a reality with them pushing the legalisation of poker agenda in a favourable direction for the land based US casinos. While I was writing this last week I had a few predictions in the back of my head – Because I simply dont see the rest of the poker world taking it lying down.

It has been rumoured that representatives of the AGA (American Gaming Association) who represent the likes of The Mirage, Wynn’s & Harrahs have suggested to the PPA (Poker Players Alliance) to “Get rid of Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars”.

Clearly the AGA who spends over 250k lobbying government on behalf of some of the biggest land based casinos wants a clear run at the regulated US online poker market (should it come to pass) with existing online poker rooms like PokerStars et al forced out of the deal …

Lets just hope the PPA can remember where its support actually came from and not sell out to the pressure of the AGA while trying to get poker regulated in the US market.

My poker prediction for 2009 … PokerStars will buy Las Vegas

Well maybe not all of Vegas but a US land based casino operation.

IF online poker in the US gets regulated BUT the likes of the AGA get their way and carve out the regulations to suit themselves and cut out the rest of the global gaming industry from legally operating in US market …

I predict the online giants who incidently are doing a whole lot better than the US land based casinos at the moment, will bit back and play them at their own game.

If you dont play fair and let the existing online poker rooms compete in the US market … They will buy up chunks of Las Vegas and get themselves a legitimate piece of the action with ownership of a US land based casino.

And I dont think it will just be PokerStars with half an eye on US Casino real estate …

I also reckon Full Tilt Poker, Party Poker & 888.com will be beating on the door, maybe even … PKR.com

OK so PKR might seem a bit left field but they’re a giant in the making … with over 2 million users.

Watch out Vegas – don’t under estimate the online poker rooms, they won’t just roll over if you try to screw them and online players over.

Bear in mind while the big US casinos might be struggling for a profit most of the big online poker rooms aren’t and look relatively cash rich …

If the goal posts get moved by the likes of the AGA when it comes to US regulation and one of the requirements is being a “legitimate” member of the US land based casino club … move over guys I predict your going to have to make room for some new members like it or not.

Once one or two big online sites make this move who knows where it could end – In a couple of years time old faded casinos off the Las Vegas strip could have all the big names of online poker above the doors.

So AGA etc …

Just have a think before you try to subvert the good intentions of lobby groups like the PPA with your self interested agenda – It might just come back to bite you on the ass.

Written by admin · Filed Under Scrawnybob's Ramble