Nevada Regulators approved the International Game Technology application on August 24, Thursday to compete in an emerging market for hand-held mobile gaming devices. The approval for licensing as an operator of mobile gambling system for the Reno-based slot manufacturer was voted unanimously by the members of the state gambling commission upon a recommendation follow up from the state Gaming Control Board.
IGT will feature blackjack, poker, video slots, roulette and keno. Amy Monette, director of the company's research laboratory, stated that market studies show many gamblers are interested in the new devices and it lead the commission to approve IGT's new licensing. "We feel that becoming an early player is worth the financial risk," she added.
The IGT will feature blackjack, poker, video slots, roulette and keno. Amy Monette, director of the company's research laboratory, stated that market studies show many gamblers are interested in the new devices and it lead the commission to approve IGT's new licensing. "We feel that becoming an early player is worth the financial risk," she added.
According to Monette, biometric fingerprint readers have been discussed as a way to ensure minors aren't gambling and other measures such as player security codes are also being considered.
IGT's prototypes range from a small device to a 10-by-12-inch laptop, these wireless devices can be linked to a main casino servers that verifies the gambler is the one who checked out one of the devices at the casino.
In May of next year IGT will be licensing Cantor Gaming to be the first licensed manufacturer and distributor of wireless gadgets. The 2005 legislative effort to allow wireless gambling in Nevada was led by Cantor.
03, 2006
Nancy Parker