The benefits of land-Internet cooperation explored

Party Gaming chief executive Jim Ryan reportedly used the new-found freedom to visit the United States occasioned by his company's settlement with the Department of Justice recently. Travelling to Las Vegas, he attended a high level meeting of land casino operators to discuss the benefits of cooperation with online gambling firms.

According to Calidas Gaming reports, the presentation formed part of the Legends of Gaming event hosted by the Las Vegas-based Union Gaming Group at the Playboy Club. In attendance were Jim Murren, chief executive of the MGM Mirage group; Palms president George Maloof; WMS industries boss Brian Gamache and incoming IGT chairman Phil Satre, along with a host of influential former and serving executives of associated major companies and organisations.

Ryan outlined the significant developments in online gambling technology that give the Internet sector a superior capability to track, capture and manage player activity, and revealed that the online business had the potential to significantly enhance revenues. Illustrating the point, Ryan said that pre-UIGEA Party Gaming's annual turnover was $1.2 billion, yielding profits of $775 million.