Harrah's Set Sights On Online Gambling

Garber Head Of Harrah's New Interactive Division
22 May, 2009

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Although news of Harrah's Entertainment's hiring of former PartyGaming boss Mitch Garber circulated in mid-April, it all became official today as Garber was announced as the new CEO of Harrah's Interactive Entertainment.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal Harrah's new division will, "oversee the company’s efforts to expand its World Series of Poker brand internationally and online" which is a good thing as this year's World Series of Poker is set to begin next week.

"As the world's largest gaming company, Harrah's is taking a pro-active approach toward international and interactive expansion," explained Harrah's CEO and chairman Gary Loveman in a release.

"It is important we position ourselves to explore new markets as well as new technologies with our best in class brands."

On top of WSOP brand expansion, Garber and Harrah's Interactive Entertainment (HIE) will also be responsible for exploring opportunities abroad.

"In addition to growing the World Series of Poker, HIE will explore the use of interactive gaming technologies to expand the reach of Harrah's brands globally, starting in Europe," Harrah's said in a statement.

"With its renowned Total Rewards customer-loyalty program, HIE will be utilized to develop new opportunities to strengthen and grow Harrah's customer base."

Is the establishment of HIE a precursor to an online offering though?

Harrah's has thrown its support behind Barney Frank's legalized online gambling proposal, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009.

But as Loveman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he believes of all the online casino games, poker is best-suited (pardon the pun) for the online gambling arena.

"I do think the time has come, particularly for online poker," explained Harrah's boss.

"It is a very exciting and very lucrative business and we are going to work hard to convince elected officials that this is something American adults should be able to do."

It was also announced that in addition to Garber becoming CEO, WSOP commissioner Jeffrey Pollack will be HIE's president