A scam has been uncovered in which a Denver
"businessman", David Howe, took several people for thousands of dollars,
promising them quick riches from operating their own online casino. After
several victims filed complaints, a local news channel brought some light to the
scandal, which in turn, got the attention of the Colorado Bureau of
Investigation and the Arizona Department of Gaming.
Not only did Howe promise investors they could make
$25,000 in three months, he was producing online casino websites, that Colorado
law dictates an illegal activity. The scam said that investors could have
their very own online casino with an investment as little as $999. Only
after Howe's company, Venture Concepts, built the makeshift website with
rudimentary casino software, would he then inform his purchasers they would need
to dish out thousands of more dollars to advertise the site and get traffic
coming in. It was a money-trap in all senses of the word.
The enormously booming online gambling industry was
a strong temptation for buyers, which Howe used to inspire their hopes of
getting a portion of the multi-billion industry. However, Howe failed to
mention that the online casino gambling industry is one of the most competitive
industry's out there as well - and that only a handful of large gaming companies
and online casino operators are taking in the greatest portion of revenue.
Colorado's Attorney General, John Suthers,
commented that if Howe was indeed creating online casinos and promoting internet
gaming, he would have indeed been participating in an illegal activity.
Already, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation has searched Howe's Venture
Concepts office and confiscated computers and records that were found in a
nearby dumpster. As for Howe, he is nowhere to be found as of yet.