MGM in Las Vegas and Party Gaming are closer than ever to forming a partnership that would most definitely be beneficial for everyone involved, including gamblers. High-level executives from both sides met recently in Las Vegas and have made the first steps by discussing the benefits of these two gambling operators joining forces.

On Monday, Jim Ryan CEO of Party Gaming met with MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren, Palms President George Maloof, slot machine manufacturers, WMS Industries CEO Brian Gamache, International Game Technology Chairman Phil Satre, Jack Binion, Chuck Mathewson, Michael Morton CEO of N9NE restaurant and nightclub group and President of Top Rank Todd duBoef at a session hosted by Las Vegas-based Union Gaming Group at The Playboy Club atop The Palms Las Vegas.

The audience consisted mostly of institutional investors interested in learning about the future of online gambling, on a larger scale. Another topic that was discussed in the session was the fact that online gaming companies such as Party Gaming could provide land-based casinos much better player data and customer tracking than is being currently used.

"It's far deeper than that," Ryan said. "We utilize technology for e-commerce and can capture player information on a far better scale. We can see ourselves becoming partners with traditional casinos."

Another hot topic in Monday's meeting was the UIGEA, which has been in place since the Bush administration in 2006. When asked his opinion on this gambling ban, Ryan stated that he couldn't believe that the U.S. Government is allowing taxable dollars to slip through its fingers.

"I just don't understand why the American Gaming Association hasn't gotten behind the Frank bill, or any bill supporting Internet gaming, for that matter," Ryan said.