In a statement posted on its website on Friday, Lasseters Online Casino announced that it has shut its doors, effective immediately, after a decision from the Board of Directors of its parent company, Lasseters Corporation Limited (LCL). The site, which was opened in 1999, is currently in the process of granting withdrawals. All players with funds must submit their requests by Friday, October 24th.
A statement posted on the Lasseters Online Casino home page reads, “A review on the viability of the online casino operations was made and the Board of LCL is of the view that the ability of the online casino to turn around is very remote, despite continuous support from the parent company over the last two years. The online casino has suffered continuous losses and faces numerous constraints resulting in the company’s online casino not being able to remain competitive.”
The site officially closed down on Friday. However, access to account information remains available for players, who must submit all requests for funds by October 24th. If a player’s account balance is less than $25, he or she must e-mail support to process the withdrawal. ID verification is required as well, so players are advised to begin the process as soon as possible. Lasseters added, “From all of us here at Lasseters Online, this is a very sad day. We hope you have enjoyed the Lasseters Online site as much as we have enjoyed delivering our games and services to you, and would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for your loyalty over the past 9 years.”
LCL also owns and operates AusVegas Casino. A similar message to the one found on Lasseters Online Casino appears on the front page of its website. Shares of the parent company are traded on the Australian Stock Exchange under the symbol “LAS.” Its official listing date was June 5, 2000 and the company is based in Fortitude Valley. Its Director and Chairman is Dato’ Jaya Tan, who has held the position since 2001. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Park Hyatt Saigan, a five star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Kamal Tan is LCL’s Non-Executive Director; he has also held that position since 2001.
E-Mail and customer chat support are available for players withdrawing from the site. Prior to the cessation of operations, Lasseters Online Casino offered Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Baccarat, Pontoon 21, Red Dog, and Snapjax. It also offered Keno, Roulette, and a cornucopia of slot machines. The Age, an Australian news outlet, noted that the Lasseters Sportsbook will remain in operation despite the closure of the casino arm.
Among the final slate of games to be introduced to the Lassters Online Casino were Banzai, Games Fever, Le Paris, and the Lost City of Atlantis. It was one of the oldest internet gambling sites in operation and employed the Orbis OpenBet platform.
The main issue, according to the company, was the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the United States, which occurred two years ago: “Following the announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange on September 9th, 2008, the Directors have taken the subsequent decision to cease the operations of Lasseters Online Casino due to our inability to compete and retain our market share since the closure of the U.S. market in October, 2006.” Several online poker sites, including Bodog, Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, Ultimate Bet, and Doyle’s Room, continue to accept U.S. customers.
