Canadian software developer Chartwell Technology Inc. has announced that it has been engaged to provide a play-for-free virtual casino for the lasvegas.com entertainment portal. Chartwell and lasvegas.com will share the advertising revenue generated by the lasvegas.com online casino.

"This relationship represents another step in the expansion of Chartwell's business into the pure Internet entertainment content area," said Darold Parken, President of Chartwell Technology. "Lasvegas.com is a fabulous entertainment portal and a natural fit for our gaming software."

"Including a suite of casino-style games on lasvegas.com has been a giant step in making ours the most comprehensive Web site on and about this exciting city," said Jack Harpster, executive director of Donrey Media Interactive, parent company of the Internet portal site.

"We partnered with Chartwell Technology to provide our virtual casino because they’re the very best in the business," he said.

Jupiter Communication estimates that more than 3.7 million consumers in the United States are playing games over the Internet, generating revenues of approximately US$81 million in 1998, and projects that 26.8 million consumers will generate US$1.1 billion in game playing revenues in 2002.

Chartwell recently developed a play-for-free casino for Harrah's Entertainment.