First To Get Wireless Approval Could Be Cantor Gaming

The company that led a 2005 legislative effort to allow wireless gambling in Nevada, according to the Associated Press has now won this week a recommendation from regulators for licensing required to market in the state, its hand-held, mobile gambling devices.

Cantor Gaming was recommended by the state Gaming Control Board to be the state's first licensed distributor and manufacturer of the devices. At a May 18 meeting, the board's parent state Gaming Commission will have last say on the licensing.

After managing director and vice president of the company, Joe Asher, said Cantor is ready to invest "significant'' capital to set up mobile gambling systems in Nevada hotel-casinos, the board sanctioned Cantor. According to Asher, the devices should draw in gamblers who have grown up with video games, in their 20s and early 30s, as well as cell phones and other devices, along with older gamblers who also make use of such technology.

Based on the 2005 legislation, regulations passed in March, made Nevada the primary state in the nation to endorse use of handheld devices for gambling in any public area of the state's casinos, for example, restaurants and poolsides.

According to the rules, a range of games are allowed, including blackjack, poker, bingo, and horse race betting. It is prohibited to use the devices in hotel rooms and other places that can't be supervised.

MGM Mirage Inc. and Harrah's Entertainment Inc., the major operators along with neighborhood casino operator Station Casinos Inc. as the regulations and the technology evolve, say they are taking a wait-and-see approach. Boyd Gaming Corp., has said it is uncertain regarding demand for hand-held gadgets, despite having electronic bingo devices at halls in its Las Vegas properties. Their holdings include co-ownership in the Borgata in Atlantic City, N.J. and the Stardust in Las Vegas.

an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald, the New York-based financial services company, Cantor G&W (Nevada) LP plans to use bond-trading technology. Such technology has been used since September 2003, for mobile gambling devices in Britain.

Louisiana-based Diamond I Inc., which has developed its own device I also interested in the technology. In addition there is the world's largest manufacturer of slot machines, Reno-based International Game Technology, and the Las Vegas-based gambling device manufacturer FortuNet Inc.

Biometric fingerprint readers and regulations restraining use to public areas will keep devices out of the hands of minors according to the manufacturers.

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