The early days of online gaming had the casinos all worried. My good friend Steve Wynn confided in me a few years back that he thought people would stay home and play on 'my' internet unless he did something crazy. (I told him that he should top his other casinos with one that was all Steve Wynn. Did I get any credit?)

When VCR's came out, the National Association of Broadcasters went crazy, claiming that these monsters with their flashing '12:00's would spell the end of TV as we know it. Same with DVDs and the movie industry.

There never was a doomsday. In fact, DVD box sets of TV shows dominate the aisles. The movie industry is now making movies with DVD extras that they know will drive purchases at the store.

I'm sitting in my hotel suite here in AC (at the Borgata of course) after a night of cards. While I didn't really have the time for it, I needed to brush up on it prior to our company casino night. I think I was the oldest person at my table, and probably older than many of the 'kids' parents. These kids cut their teeth on these online games and got the poker bug. Their practice online fed their urge to play in person. I've got to tell you, there is nothing like playing in person, especially when you get pretty good at reading people.

Casinos have been reporting record traffic, especially to their poker rooms. The rise in online gaming exposed a whole new audience to poker. The Internet was able to market gaming better than any brochure would have been able to. The interactivity of the medium got people hooked.

When you look at the Internet, don't think of it as simply another flat canvas on which to advertise. Think of how the online gaming experience sold the in person experience. What can you do on your site that gets people hooked on your real world offering?

Once you think of it, grab your chips and go 'all in'!