Handheld gambling devices, otherwise known as mobile casino gambling systems, apparently are being met with more open arms in Las Vegas than what was initially expected.  The devices, which enable gamblers to place real-money bets within the premises of a casino resort, but not necessarily on the casino floor itself, are now being developed by some of the gambling industry's top casino technology developers.  The latest company to get an approval from the Nevada Gaming Control Board (although the Nevada State Gaming Commission will have the final say) is the world's foremost casino slot machine developer, International Game Technology (IGT).

IGT is now the second gaming company to be (likely) approved for supplying mobile gambling devices to casino resorts this year.  Shortly after the necessary laws permitting and regulating remote gambling were passed in March, Cantor Fitzgerald affiliate, Cantor GW was approved by the Nevada State Gaming Commission to develop the handheld gambling devices, which have already been contracted to Las Vegas Sands Corp. who will be using them in the Venetian (the first casino to do so) as a trial run late this year or early in 2007.

The prototypes being developed by IGT Mobile range from handheld devices to small laptops, all of which are designed for their portability.  The software on the devices will enable gamblers to bet at blackjack, slots, poker, keno and horse racing.  The main restrictions on the devices chiefly cover how and where they are used. Limited to public areas in casinos offering more than 100 slot machines, such as in resort restaurants or poolside, the devices are also required to safeguard against underage and fraudulent gambling.

Another company pushing to nurture the prospects of mobile casino gambling is Diamond I, which is likely to be the first company to develop a dedicated hand-held system.  Diamond I is a smaller company compared to IGT, but has the necessary technological innovations for meeting the Gaming Commission's regulations, as evidenced in their WifiCasino GS, which uses biometric security to identify gaming device users by their thumb prints. The President for Diamond I, David Loflin, said he expects the devices can be used to network gamblers from several casinos at once for competition purposes, and that it will only be a period of time before Atlantic City and other large casino gambling markets follow suit of Las Vegas.

Cantor Fitzgerald's portable devices can fit in a coat pocket, and uses a patented encryption technology that allows the devices to be monitored in such a way that will automatically shut them down if taken beyond permitted areas to use them.  Much like an online casino server, the devices are dependent on  main hub, if you will, which will insure the devices are used only in their intended and permitted fashion.