Nevada Gaming Control Board to Look at I-gaming regs

The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) is set to put in place regulations with regard to online gambling advertising.

While advertising of online gambling sites in Nevada is unambiguously illegal, gambling site have for some time now used '.net' loopholes to circumvent this and advertise at events such as the World Series of Poker.

The .net strategy is a simple and clever one. Set up a 'free play' or instructional website that doesn't host real money wagering and using the same brand but a different domain extension. Since advertising sites that don't include real money wagering is not illegal under existing legislation, these sites may be promoted at WSOP and other Vegas events via general event and player sponsorship. So Full Tilt Poker can promote their FullTilt.net instructional site without fear of prosecution.

This builds a player base, which of course can then be migrated to the .com site via cross promotional strategies.

The NGCB are now looking to close this loophole. Spokesperson Randall Sayre said that the NGCB will be considering legislation that addresses the '.net' advertising strategy.

Some gambling news sites are also suggesting the NBCB may be using this legislation overhaul as an opportunity to position the State in readiness for a Federal green light for online gambling generally, is this ever happens. This is however only speculation.