Ladbrokes, the betting division of Hilton Group, is getting ready to launch a new online casino that may be licensed out of Gibraltar. The new e-casino will bring Ladbrokes, one of the world's largest gambling operators, completely into the clicks-and-mortar betting world. The company already operates numerous casinos around the world, as well as betting shops in the U.K., in addition to its three online sportsbooks. While both ladbrokes.co.uk and bet.co.uk operate in England, another site, Ladbrokes.com is licensed in and operates from Gibraltar.
The company, which also operates several casinos in the United States --including three in Colorado, has already informed the Colorado Division of Gaming about its virtual casino plans, confirmed Tom Kitts, who heads the state licensing authority. "They came in and briefed us a few weeks ago about their plans to operate out of Gibraltar," Kitts said. The state gaming authority let Ladbrokes officials know that accepting American bets would be a faux pas.
"We don't have jurisdiction over Gibraltar," Kitts said. "But we told them we'd look unfavorably on the online casino accepting bets from citizens of Colorado or the United States."
Colorado gaming authorities have determined that online betting is not legal within the United States. Ladbrokes officials reassured the state gaming authorities that American bets wouldn't be accepted on their new virtual casino.
Ladbrokes first ventured into virtual betting last February when the company announced a slew of
Internet-related ventures, including the launching of its online sportsbook sites as well as the touting of other interactive betting deals. Shortly after that, the company signed a deal to offer an interactive betting service via Open and another with Cable & Wireless Communications. It also signed a similar agreement to deliver interactive betting services to Telewest's cable customers, while an exclusive deal to offer interactive betting to digital cable customers of Two Way TV was inked. WAP betting services were also announced as part of a deal with wireless phone maker Ericsson. An online casino was also mentioned, although few details were available at the time.
"Betting and gaming through the multiplicity of media channels available to customers around the world is set for explosive growth," a spokesman said at the time. "Ladbrokes, the world's biggest name in betting, is now on the way to being number one for interactive betting and gaming and all the possibilities the new media future presents."