Because Casinos Don’t Offer Enough Gambling

Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when you take a break from the blackjack tables to grab a bite to eat in the casino restaurant? Do you carry your own crayon with you so you are always prepared to play keno? Well, your moment in the sun is soon approaching, as Nevada became the first state to approve wireless gaming devices at casinos.

Currently prevented from starting their own internet casinos by the US government, this will allow Nevada casinos to at least feel like they are inching a little bit closer to getting in the game, now ruled exclusively by overseas companies.

There are restrictions on the new handheld devices, however. First, they will only be made available to casinos that have at least 100 slot machines and at least one other game. Second, they can only be used in the public areas of the casinos, which means that customers will not be able to take them back to their rooms.

The devices have yet to be approved by state regulators, as security is still a concern. But the financial services company, Cantor Fitzgerald, which was a major player in the bill, does not feel that security will be a problem. Joe Asher, Managing Director of Cantor Fitzgerald Gaming and Wagering, said that the devices will use encryption and may even use fingerprint readers if necessary.

The handheld units could also be setup to cease function when taken into unauthorized areas. Other safeguards such as monitoring losses to cutoff a problem gambler could be added, as well.

"Security is a big deal and we are very familiar with it because we operate in that world today," Asher said.

Not all state legislators were happy with the bill. The sole holdout, Senator Maggie Carlton of Las Vegas, feels that such devices would be a detriment to many service people in the casinos. Sen. Carlton, herself, is also a waitress at Treasure Island.

"There needs to be places where there aren't two and three gaming devices at your disposal," she said. "It's hard enough to get somebody's order when they're trying to fill out a Keno slip. All I need to find out from them is how they like their eggs and what kind of toast they want."

Carlton also wants to know if she now would have to police the devices usage, yet another unnecessary worry.

"What's going to be my responsibility? Am I going to be obligated to turn someone in if I see them hand it to their kid?"

Originally published August 2, 2005