If legislation goes the way of licensing and regulating in the US, and Harrah's is set to go with a new online poker room, will it immediately rise to the top or at least rivaling the top or will it suffer from lofty expectations that it didn't live up to?

It seems like no site can breakthrough to the levels of Stars and FT these days, but if Harrah's made a site, they would have the brand name, and a ton of ad revenue to back it up. Would the vast majority of US players head over to their online card room to at least give it a try?

What % of the market could they expect to have after one year if their site (a big IF) runs smoothly and is comparable to Stars/FT in rake?

A regulated online poker site located inside the U.S. would probably get close to 100% of the U.S. action very quickly. All the U.S. players would attract other players from around the world. Harrahs as plenty of money to compete on software quality, customer service and security. Plus, we would feel much more comfortable keeping funds in the account. IMO, it wouldn't take too long for Harrah's or another big name Las Vegas casino to overtake FTP and PS.

Harrah's wouldn't get anywhere near 100% of US action ever.

Svenska Spiel has nowhere like 100% of the action in Sweden despite being run by the government gambling monopoly.

Online poker will NEVER be leaglized due to money laundering it is to easy

big bs

It will just buy Pokerstars. The owners were planning on selling it before the UIGEA anyway, this way they already own the biggest site, have an established brand to build from etc.

They wont just set up harrahs.com or whatever. Hell with Party being publicly traded that is an option too, would just need more front end input, but then would require less to buy id assume.

If Harrah's went into the breadmaker business, how fast would it rise?

Link?

http://www.pokernews.com/news/2006/0...-float-ipo.htm

They are locating it in Canada, according to this June 2009 press release:

http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/harrah...montreal-2705/

With Harrah's advertising clout, and the existing brand loyalty I would expect it to do as well as second or third place in the online market. And, if they tie it into the "Total Rewards" comp system they already operate around the world, so that you can use your online points for actual hotel rooms and dining, as well as travel deals, they may come off threatening the number 1 spot.

Like a stiffy in soft warm dough.

I'd move immediately, I have no rakeback on full tilt and a name I don't like on pokerstars (didn't know what I was doing when first signing up to either)... If I could sign up to a room likely to be big with a SN I like and rakeback, I'd move and stay.

Harrah's can't afford to buy anything right now.

In response to the actual thread.

If Harrah's creates some massive incentive to play and uses the WSOP brand, they'd become a major player real quickly.

When the Venetian poker room opened it was a massive failure. Nobody played there. Then they started comping 2/5 players 4 dollars an hour to play and surprise surprise the poker room instantly got real popular and the rest is history. (YES I know I'm using a live room as an example)

lol'd