Casino Owners Unimpressed With Linden Crackdown
by Pixeleen Mistral on 07/04/07 at 8:11 pm
by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk
While Azno Simons seems particularly eager to comply with the Linden lab staffers attempt to clean up at least the gambling aspect of Second Life – other metaverse casino owners have a different perspective. Mr. Simons may be a unique case, since he more interested in advertising his web-based gambling empire than running a serious in-world operation. I visited a few more conventional SL casinos to get reactions to the Linden’s casino ad-word ban.
the FBI cannot touch Anthonymark Alcott
Anthonymark Alcott owns the “Casino World” sim, and I caught up with him earlier today for comment on the Linden’s actions. Mr. Alcott said, “I am UK citizen so FBI can’t touch us”. This does raise the issue that non-US citizens are out of bounds for the FBI – although the Linden Lab servers are not.
Mr. Alcott told me that rather than advertising the casino, he will run ads for other parts of his club. When I pointed out that his sim has the word casino in the name, Mr. Alcott said, “they can’t change that. We could call it rape club. It doesn’t mean anyone is going to be raped here, it is just a name”. Fair enough – let’s hope Robin Linden agrees with that analysis.
move the servers offshore
Over at the Gold Rush Casino, I spoke with Malarwen Hall who was overseeing a large group of gamblers and asked if she thought any changes were in store. Ms. Hall told me, “I do not know, I think LL should move overseas”.
Perhaps a change of venue for the Linden servers would make sense – if the Lab intends to continue to “Your World, Your Imagination” mantra to it’s logical conclusion despite widely varying RL laws and customs. I’m really hoping we don’t all have to start wearing burhkas everywhere in SL because of some Saudi Arabian law . Maybe the Lindens can send any concerned Saudis over to one of the Gorean sims and let them admire the Free Companion’s veils? Once they are enslaved they won’t be able to leave Gor anyway – problem solved.
Jarla Lean wants to work in a “Palace”
Back at Casino World, I asked Jarla Lean – one of the escorts/dancers on duty – what she thought. Ms. Lean suggested that all the casino owners change their business name to “Palace”. This could be a good solution to the problem. Just as the ageplay community has now morphed into the “roleplay” community, present day casinos could become palaces – that ought to keep the FBI guessing. Some suspect the Lindens are still trying to work out what happened to those ageplayers – so this approach sounds promising.
packing them in at the Gold Rush
Nacon
Apr 7th, 2007
Mr. Alcott said, “they can’t change that. We could call it rape club. It doesn’t mean anyone is going to be raped here, it is just a name”.
Fucking idiot. I used to run (not owned) a sim called “Sex” which is a sandbox with ads for creative building only.
Guess again, idiot. Sex had more traffic from people coming in for actual sex than building.
Nimrod
Apr 7th, 2007
Lindens seem to delete the parcel name and replace the parcel description with a phrase mentioning to read the blog on the new policy. What’s interesting is that some places with the word “casino” are getting the name removed, while others are not. Some places that just sell casino games were effected as well.
I do agree, this is only changing the “casino” words into “gaming” and such. How would a new resident in 2 months find and know about this policy? It is not in the TOS yet.
Da Truph
Apr 8th, 2007
“I am UK citizen so FBI can’t touch us”
How stupid is this guy? Has he never heard the word “extradition”? Doing business with a US company can put you in danger of it, dumbass.
Talthibus Brevity
Apr 8th, 2007
Actually, extradition requires the cooperation of the government of the country where the person is being extradited from. Since they’re not breaking any UK laws, it would be incredibly unusual for the UK gov’t to cooperate with something like that, especially for a legal business making circa $1500 USB per month. Extradition cases historically have involved only millions of dollars, or murders.
Also, the person would have committed no crime on US shores. They’re running their business from the UK. He’s right they can’t be touched. The servers being in the US does not put them in jeopardy. It puts the owners of the servers and the IP address of those servers in jeopardy only. That’d be Linden Labs.
Brendan Recreant
Apr 8th, 2007
He isn’t in Jeopardy, he can’t be arrested or anything, but the Lindens can shut his Sim down if he didn’t comply.
Azno Simons
Apr 8th, 2007
Very curious as to what running a serious casino really means. Does it mean that a serious casino has camping chairs that make the casino look full and cause excess lag? Our casino operations are exactly that, casino operations. Our decision to comply with the US UIGE Act (United States Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) is because Second Life has operations as well as residents from within a country that has a law in effect that could effect our overall operations. Yes, our casino is owned by a corporation that is actively involved in web based gaming (only available to non-US resident and access) – our decision to become involved in Second Life was a way to expand our existing user base. Our web based products also provide free gaming, hence our slogan “Play for free, Win for real”. While our casino may not be full of campers (because of our policy of no camping), our operations are about as close to a real casino as possible.
As far as the statements that since one is a UK citizen, they are outside of the US UIGE Act, I can only suggest that one should reference a knowledgeable attorney whom is experienced in both international law as well as gaming laws. As far as the statement concerning using rape within the sim name, I can only suggest that this person does not understand that this will only cause additional problems with regards to this whole casino matter. We are complying with the US UIGE Act as we are working with Linden Labs in hopes that they will allow legal casino operations for non-US residents (and non-US access), instead of seeing Linden Labs simply outlaw any casino operations.
PaulFive
Apr 8th, 2007
hmm – has Mr Alcott see this?
“Remote gambling is defined as “gambling in which persons participate by the use of remote communication” namely, the internet, telephone, television, radio or “any other kind of electronic or other technology for facilitating communication”.
Operators of gambling services based in Great Britain and using remote communication will need licenses that authorise such gambling. A single licence cannot be issued for remote gambling and non-remote gambling. An operator will have to obtain two licenses if he hopes to provide both services.”
source http://www.out-law.com/page-4087
anthonymark
Apr 8th, 2007
Yes,
I don’t just shout my mouth off without researching in it first eh nimrod or should u be called dimrod. You haven’t a clue about international law so kindly research before u comment. I am about to finish my final year of studying it at Oxford University so I think I no more about it than u.
What I said was the FBI cannot touch my sim in Second Life only the Linden Lab can as I am not a US citizen I have spoken to Robin Linden about it who advised me if I am not breaking any local law LL wont close me down.
Extradition requires the cooperation of the government of the country where the person is being extradited from I am laughing so much I cant type, u think I will be extradited for playing a game hahahahahahahahahaha dimrod definitely should be your name.
Talthibus Brevity – correct I have spoken to Robin Linden about this and she told me this. Quote ” [17:56] Robin Linden: We won’t allow promotion of casinos and gambling on Linden public channels. You and your customers will have to decide beyond that if what you’re doing is illegal, based on the laws where you live. Thanks for asking.
[18:23] Robin Linden: Or classifieds, event listings, and parcel listings. ” Unquote.
Azno Simons – Yes that quote is correct however u do not need a licence at this point of time for a game (virtual gaming) I am sure u will need one in the future but not at this time in the UK where I am based.
Anyone who wants to talk to me about it in world apart from our friend DIMROD please IM me I am happy to discuss it with anyone of you.
Thanks
Anthonymark Alcott
Casinos Suck
Apr 8th, 2007
Wow. I can’t believe someone from Oxford has problems with three-letter words. Man… using “u” makes you sound like a total moron. Why are you at Oxford? To mop floors? I would NEVER hire a law professional who types like “u”.
Nimrod
Apr 8th, 2007
What the hell are you talking about “Anthonymark?” Where did I state anything about international laws? And as “Casinos Suck” says, using proper english will make you look a little smarter .
Nimrod
Apr 8th, 2007
Ah, nevermind. Mr. Oxford couldn’t figure out who posted what and he thinks I posted what “Da Trumph” posted. Seems like he sure does “no (sic!!)” more than me!
Harlequin Salome
Apr 8th, 2007
Important telegram.
ANTHONYMARK STOP
IN THE FUTURE WHEN MAKING FUN OF PEOPLE PLEASE BE SURE YOU CAN SPELL AT A THIRD GRADE LEVEL STOP
THIS KEEPS YOU FROM LOOKING LIKE A JACKASS STOP
YOUR FRIEND STOP
HARLEQUIN STOP
FlipperPA Peregrine
Apr 8th, 2007
Oxford, eh? Which college are you in? What’s the name of the main library? Ever been to The Bear, The Turl, DTM, Carfax Tower, The Old Crow, or the Eagle and Child? Which one was where Tolkien wrote much of LotR? Which in that list isn’t an Oxford institution… I lied about one?
Your spelling just makes me want to verify these things.
SexY
Apr 9th, 2007
_Fucking idiot. I used to run (not owned) a sim called “Sex” which is a sandbox with ads for creative building only._
And yet Sex was not good enough for you, so you had to have S. Valentine banned to try take over the sim. Too bad that didn’t work out for you.
We have not forgotten, Mr. Nacon.
Anonymous
Apr 11th, 2007
FlipperPA Peregrine can now verify me. Mr.Nacon u seem to be a nasty piece of work and you will get yours.
Prokofy Neva
Apr 11th, 2007
>Important telegram.
>ANTHONYMARK STOP
IN THE FUTURE WHEN MAKING FUN OF PEOPLE PLEASE BE SURE YOU CAN SPELL AT A THIRD GRADE LEVEL STOP
THIS KEEPS YOU FROM LOOKING LIKE A JACKASS STOP
YOUR FRIEND STOP
HARLEQUIN STOP
LOL thanks for my LOL du jour. I’ll have to borrow this format some day.
Prokofy Neva
Apr 11th, 2007
>Oxford, eh? Which college are you in? What’s the name of the main library? Ever been to The Bear, The Turl, DTM, Carfax Tower, The Old Crow, or the Eagle and Child? Which one was where Tolkien wrote much of LotR? Which in that list isn’t an Oxford institution… I lied about one?
>Your spelling just makes me want to verify these things.
Um, what did you get on your SATs, Flip?
Who was the greatest influence on Tolkien?
What was C.S. Lewis’ wife’s name?
In which novel did a character say “Everyone is stooping and hiding a face.”
Nimrod
Apr 11th, 2007
Prokofy: Google can help with those!
Oxford sox
Apr 12th, 2007
Okay Mr. big man on campus Oxford Edition – answer me this question that ONLY a true Oxford Alumni would know…
On the day I met my wife, I had a conversation with her about her son who is a spaceman. She mentioned that he never wears knickers under his spacesuit. She also mentioned that he owns a chicken farm in Nairobi. He has a tattoo of Pee-Wee Herman somewhere on his body. My question is – what is her e-mail password?
And for extra credit, name the capital of New Jersey?