Casinos.co.uk: Casino News Archive
Thursday 16th September 2004
US State Lottery Accidentally Promotes Offshore Casino
CasinoFortune.com has announced it has seen a 50% increase in traffic from the residents of Oregon since that state’s lottery released an instant scratch card product also called Casino Fortune.
Lottery operators claimed confusion over the names was ‘unlikely’. Chuck Bauman, Oregon Lottery spokesman, told the press: “since there is no tie-in between the instant game and the Internet, confusion is not likely.”
However, CasinoFortune.com explained that the number of Oregon participants in the Casino Fortune Website has grown from 8,550 before the scratch ticket game’s release, to almost 12,500 at present. In fact, spokeman, Kevin Mercuri, speaking to www.Bend.com, aid more than 2,700 Oregon clients responded to the registration question, “How did you hear about us?” with the answer: “scratch card.”
“It’s obvious to us that Oregon is not exactly Las Vegas or Atlantic City,” continued Mercuri. “In our database, clients coming in from the state of Oregon are pretty slim.”
Despite the extra revenue the Oregon lottery has generated fro the company, CasinoFortune.com says it is outraged by the lottery’s assertion that its trademark doesn’t extend to other gambling, such as the scratch cards. “That would be the equivalent of me starting a clothing line and using ‘Pepsi-Cola,’ since Pepsi doesn’t make clothing,” Mercuri said.
“I think it’s a matter of the principle,” he continued. “We’re an established and well-respected Internet casino. Almost 2 million Americans gamble with us. We’re the largest casino, with regards to American clientele, third-largest in the world.”
Court action over the trademark is possible, he added. “It depends on whether it’s worth it, what’s the return on investment. Our CEO is pretty upset. He’s talking to our attorneys in New York.”
Source:OnlineCasinoNews
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