Welcomed by a sign at the registration desk reading “GUTS� in large, bold letters, an estimated 500 affiliates braved the current unease in the online gaming world to attend this year’s Casino Affiliates Convention in Las Vegas this past weekend.

Braving wild rumors of mass arrests at the Stardust venue, the turnout – while down from previous years that registered as many as 700 affiliates – was considered encouraging for the event and the industry as a whole. During this opening address, organizer Marc Lesnick simultaneously applauded those in attendance – and chastised those who chose to bow out of the proceedings. “The biggest threat to this industry is not the United States government. The biggest threat to this industry is the little boys who were afraid to come here today,� said Lesnick, according to RGT Online.

A cloud of uncertainty hung heavy around the event, causing half of the major programs to pull out in the wake of the recent arrest of Sportingbet chairman Peter Dicks, as well as BetonSports’ David Carruthers earlier this summer. Further, 21 of the registered exhibitors likewise declined to even set-up their booths, even though some were, in fact, in attendance at the event. One rumor even had the Department of Justice ready and waiting for the affiliates to arrive with some 400 warrants at their disposal – with nothing of the sort transpiring.

As a means of thanking those who showed up, Lesnick – who revealed the only pressure he received to cancel the event came from those within the industry, and not outside of it - gave each attendee a complimentary pass to his Casino Affiliate Convention to be held in Amersterdam in May, 2007. The largest in the world, the annual conference attracted 900 attendees in 2006. It was likewise reported that the majority of those who attended the Las Vegas conference felt the knowledge and connections gained as a result of attending the event would increase their bottom line in the next few months.

- Rex Harris