展望网上赌场的未来

　　美国政府打算在美国本土废除UIGEA - 这是一个备受争议的布什政府的条例草案，旨在使美国的金融机构不可以接受公平的赌场和在线扑克游戏的投注。拉斯维加斯良好的情况来看，他们已经受到经济不景气的锤击。尽管有政府禁令，但大多数行业观察家认为这是不可避免的，美国将会再次开放在线赌博游戏，并且有来自拉斯维加斯的大赌场在伺机而动。

　　根据行业监管机构发表的声明，米高梅公司和其他博彩公司，都将在自己的品牌上推出移动在线赌场服务，并试图主导行业。近年来，赌博宫殿的建设成本越来越高，互联网被看作是一个新的收入来源，尤其是与这些公司的营销力量和现有的客户群。

　　美国博彩协会，基本上是拉斯维加斯和新泽西州的运营商，最近改变了它在在线游戏上的立场。

　　同时，互联网赌场运营商有兴趣在网上赌场这一行业开展新天地。

　　远程博彩协会，欧洲的网上赌博机构，建议美国立法，以确保自由贸易规则和贸易保护主义。

　　教统会已调查到美国在互联网上的赌博政策，并可能在世界贸易组织采取一些措施，如果保护主义出现抬头。

　　无论发生什么，市场预计将继续增长。这可能是进入线上游戏股的好时机。

　　译文：

　　Things seem to be hotting up Stateside on the repeal of the UIGEA – the controversial Bush Administration bill which aimed to make it impossible for financial institutions in the USA from accepting bets from people playing casino and poker games online. The great and good of Vegas are watching the situation closely- they have been taking a hammering in the economic downturn and are looking over the fence at their online counterparts, green with envy- as revenues and players continue to grow on the Internet despite the ban. Most industry watchers think it is inevitable that the US will once again open up to online gaming.

　　And when it does, the big boys from Vegas are waiting in the wings with their Rat Pack suits and hats on, ready to join the party.

　　Harrah’s, MGM Mirage, and their brethren will all move their brands online and try to dominate the industry according to industry watchdogs. Hit in recent years by the costs of developing bigger and bigger gambling palaces, costs appear out of control in the real world and the Internet is seen as a great new source of income, particularly with the marketing power and existing customer base of these companies.

　　The American Gaming Association, who are basically the soundpiece for Las Vegas and New Jersey operators, has recently changed its stance on online gaming. Once a powerful opponent, the AGA is now softly supporting the online industry and prefers regulation to an outright ban.

　　Meanwhile the new kids on the block- the Internet casino operators, are watchng the situation unfold with interest. They are expecting the big guns from the desert to use their considerable lobbying power on Capitol Hill to bring about a licencing change and there are worries that this will favour US companies.

　　The Remote Gaming Association, a European online gambling body, is keeping close tabs on US legislation to ensure that free trade rules and protectionism is thrown out of the window.

　　The EC has already carried out an investigation into US Internet gambling policies, and may take things further at the World Trade Organization if protectionism rears its ugly head.