Gamblers at Atlantic City casinos may someday be able to place bets while standing in line for dinner, in a lounge, or beside a swimming pool, The Associated Press reports.
A proposal by state Sen. Jim Whelan, a former Atlantic City mayor, would let the casinos offer hand-held gambling devices to customers on casino property. A Senate committee was scheduled to consider the bill Monday.
Whelan says the devices would give casinos another tool to engage younger gamblers who have grown up with smart phones and tablet computers.
Whelan said the technology exists to ensure the devices won’t work if taken off the casino premises.
Nevada approved hand-held gambling devices in 2006, allowing them in public areas of casinos. But they can’t be used in hotel rooms, where they could not as easily be monitored to make sure underage people aren’t using them to gamble. Whelan’s bill does not prohibit hotel use.
