Known for leading the Indian gaming industry as an award winning consultant, Inland Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ:INLD) is quickly making a name for itself in the rapidly growing Internet casino industry.
The company received the 1998 Innovator of the Year Award from Internet Gaming International at the Second Annual International Symposium on Internet Gambling Law and Management. The awards ceremony was held at the J.W. Marriott in Washington DC.
"We awarded Inland Entertainment with the Innovator of the Year award because it is a company that is truly leading the Internet casino industry in the areas of innovation, credibility and commitment," said Christopher Dauer, editor-in-chief of Internet Gaming International. In less than one year, Inland has helped introduce three online casinos. With one online casino they have brought recognized international celebrity Kenny Rogers online, with the Good Luck Club they have introduced the innovation of direct sales to the industry and with Casino Australia they have brought a Las Vegas-style casino down-under.
In addition to live wagering, Inland's three online casinos—Kenny Rogers Casino, the Good Luck Club and Casino Australia—provide players with the opportunity to play for free in practice-mode and even offer free expert strategy tips developed by one of the world’s leading gamblers, Max Rubin who is the best-selling author of Comp City. Inland is also working actively behind the scenes to promote an equitable and responsible regulatory structure for online gaming that will help ensure that this dynamic industry grows in a way that protects the players and supports the jurisdictions that license it.
"We are honored to be recognized for our efforts in the Internet gaming industry. Inland wants to ensure the growth of this industry while also providing outstanding consumer protection and safety. We believe the way to accomplish that is by working with governments to license and regulate online gaming just like the government of Queensland, Australia," said Charles Gillespie, Internet gaming, general manager for Inland. "Queensland has recently taken the right approach by licensing and regulating online gaming and we hope the U.S. and other countries look to Queensland as a model for the entire world."
The Internet casino industry has grown rapidly over the past year and Christiansen/Cummings Associates Inc., estimates it to be a multi-billion dollar industry by the year 2001. Gillespie added, "the Internet truly is the wave of the future for many forms of entertainment. Inland is working with the most talented professionals in the Internet development industry to offer the most secure technology so players worldwide can have fun playing our games but also feel confident that our consumer protection and customer service are the best anywhere."