LV gaming giant buys stake in iwin.com

Thursday, Aug. 31, 2000 | 10:35 a.m.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas has quietly purchased a minority stake in the Internet site iwin.com in order to find new customers for its casinos in Las Vegas and around the nation, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

The millions of people who regularly enter Los Angeles-based iwin.com's prize drawings typically enjoy sweepstakes, beer and bass fishing -- making them ideal casino gambling recruits, the Journal said.

In coming weeks, the registered users of iwin and its sister site, Uproar.com, will begin receiving messages from Harrah's offering them the chance to win prizes in exchange for their e-mail addresses and visits to their nearest Harrah's casino, the Journal said.

Harrah's Chief Operating Officer Gary Loveman will become a member of iwin.com's board, the Journal said.

Iwin.com visitors earn the chance to win prizes for free by visiting the site's advertisements.

Harrah's said in a statement today that a promotion called "iwin@Harrah's" or "iwin@Showboat" or "iwin@Rio" will offer Harrah's and iwin.com players several opportunities to win cash and prizes totaling $1 million.

Using Internet content, online advertising and e-mail direct marketing, iwin.com will drive traffic to a new Harrah's prize and information area on the iwin site. Las Vegas-bound passengers on National Airlines, of which Harrah's is an investor, will also receive incentives to visit the site.