When I was younger, I lost count of the number of times I was told about the good old days; how things were better then, simpler then.  This was better, that was better; we never had to worry about this, and we never had to care about that!  To be honest, it drove me mad! I swore it would never happen to me; I will not look back.  A promise I am pleased to say I have kept pledge with.

Now it seems that we live in a world that is growing in technological advancement in every way; the record has been replaced by the CD, the IPOD is now having to start looking over its shoulder, and the video is a Now just a memory as DVD rules all.  There are so many things that have turned to dust, and it is with this sadness that one looks upon the gambling industry.  This once thriving example of the exuberance of life is threatened by the online counterpart which has grown from strength to strength, and is now the colossus of our time.  There can be no doubt, with the interest growing in online options, that the real live casino may face the possibility of fading into obscurity.

However, this is something that I do not believe. The gambling industry is one type of industry which was given little chance to begin with; a whole city built around casinos?  They all thought it wouldn’t happen, it did. The majority also assumed that it wouldn’t survive. Yet, it did.

This is not a coy and gentle activity, this is gambling and these are casinos.  They do not go quietly, they scream and they kick, they cling on until the threat has passed and they start again.

It could be argued that, since internet gambling became such a hit, more and more people have decided to experience the real thing anyway.  But, do I want to play high stakes poker in my dressing gown?  No; I want the buzz, I want the excitement, the anticipation and the tension.  I cannot get that on a nineteen inch monitor.

So, if it is a fight they want, they are going to get one. But remember the saying: be careful what you wish for!  All in all, when the dust settles, if I have ever known anything I will know this:  The last one standing will be us. Long live real life gambling!