Is there a difference between online day trading and online gambling? According to 70 percent of the readers polled at Casino Wire, no. Minus the stigma attached to online gambling, there's a strong argument for that assessment, and the recent popularity of stock betting sites seems to be nudging the two activities even closer to being perceived as one. The latest company to take a walk down this avenue is Los Angeles-based Go Bet!.
The company announced last week its latest marketing project, a new sports and financial website called Bet at Wall Street. Located at www.betatwallstreet.com, the site allows customers to "place orders" on whether the Dow Jones Industrial will close above or below a certain figure; or how many shares of Microsoft (MSFT) might be traded in a day; whether Amazon.com (AMZN) will post a profitable quarter in 1999 or 2000; whether someone will buy Priceline.com (PCLN) before year-end 1999; where NYSE will close on its first day vs. its IPO; where America Online (AOL) will close, where Yahoo! (YHOO) will close and much more. Members can also access free real-time quotes, customized business news and financial data provided exclusively by the online financial network, Money.net.
The site, developed by Starnet subsidiary Softec Systems, Caribbean Inc., also features a full sportsbook and a Java casino with more than 24 games.