More than half a year after the state of Nevada approved the use of hand-held gambling devices in hotel casinos, the Gaming Commission has authorized regulations pertaining to these apparatuses. On Thursday, the Commission voted unanimously in favor of the regulations, a move that could have roulette fans virtually spinning the wheel on handheld gadgets by year's end. Casino visitors will be permitted to use the mobile devices in the public areas of the casino, anywhere from by the pool to the dinner table.
To play using the handheld gambling devices, which will vary in size from a small video game console to a pocket PC, casino-goers will first have to present identification. After presenting identification, players will deposit money into a virtual account, similar to those of online casinos.
The next stage to get mobile gambling on the “floor” is a review by the Commission's Technology Division, which will examine the actual devices themselves. One of the issues to be discussed by the Division is to what extent the devices should be required to include features that would help prevent underage and addictive gambling. Some measures expected to be discussed include biometric identification and betting caps.
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