Effects from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York are rippling through the online gambling business, as they are through almost every industry.
Cantor Fitzgerald, a U.S.-based financial services company whose British arm, Cantor Index, offers online spread betting, had its headquarters on floors 101, 103, 104 and 105 at One World Trade Center, which crumbled to the ground Tuesday after being hit by a commercial airplane.
The London office of the company said nearly 1,000 employees of Cantor Fitzgerald and eSpeed International worked at the World Trade Center. The office said it has not been able to confirm how many staff members were present at the time of the attack.
"All of our thoughts and prayers are with our N.Y. colleagues and their families and friends at this time," said Howard W. Lutnick, chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald and eSpeed. "In a very difficult and confused situation we are doing all that we can to determine more about the situations of colleagues."
A source within the Internet gambling industry who spoke to IGN on the condition of anonymity said he heard Cantor Fitzgerald has suffered a significant loss of life.
"It was quite bad for them," the source said. "The numbers I have I wouldn't want to spread."
The U.K. affiliate is still doing business, he said.
Play on between 30 and 40 Internet casinos was up slightly on Tuesday during the attacks, the source said. He speculated the minor increase in online gambling was due to more people being at home.
Other news related to the attack from the gaming industry includes:
-Reuters and the Associated Press reported that while many attractions on the Las Vegas Strip closed on Tuesday, casinos on the Strip stayed open and gambling continued.
-Churchill Downs announced on Wednesday that after suspending business in light of the tragedy, normal operations will resume at its six racetracks and nine off-track betting facilities on Thursday.
-Captain Cook's online casino is donating $5,000 to the American Red Cross and has set up a fund for any player wishing to make a donation from his or her account with the casino.
One I-gaming executive said it is impossible for him to think of Tuesday's events in the context of an entertainment-based industry like online gambling. However, he said he is thankful that all of his employees are safe.
"Fortunately we don't accept U.S. players, U.S. or Canadian players, and fortunately we have virtually no operations headquartered or staffed in the United States," said David Solomont, president of Grand Virtual, which owns
and operates Internet casinos.
"I'm here, but basically most, if not all of our people, are outside the United States, so it really has no impact on us other than just the tragedy."