Michael Gaughan is the owner of the south Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas. He is planning to launch a free poker site for the members of the casino's loyalty program on Thursday 10/6/11 and then the public on 10/15/11.
Under the current law, sites are not allowed to accept gambling wagers and the government is preventing that by making it illegal for banks to process the payments.
Gaughan said "It's kind of a gamble" He is going to use the free poker site to promote his casino by giving away prizes and cash including a $10,000 buy in seat for one player at the next World Series of Poker event.
He also had this to say "I don't know that much about online poker and I'm trying to learn about it with a free site."
Teresa Zellhoefer is the deputy enforcement chief for the Nevada Gaming Control Board and said that this free site, that has a Vegas casino name attached to it, is a only a promotional tool. Gaughan has been working with the Nevada State Gaming Board regarding his site.
Is there an underlying agenda concerning the free site? You bet there is. Gaughan plans on going full steam ahead as soon as Nevada legalizes online gambling with one foot in the door with his free poker site.
