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Jul. 11, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

'Antiquated' ban on cell phones in sports books could be lifted

By HOWARD STUTZ
REVIEW-JOURNAL

The ticker at the sports book of The Orleans points out that the use of cell phones is illegal. The Gaming Control Board has recommended lifting the ban.
Photos by John Gurzinski.



A sign warning that the use of cell phones and other communication devices is prohibited is displayed at the sports book in The Orleans.

Cellular telephones may soon be allowed inside Nevada's race and sports books after the Gaming Control Board on Thursday recommended repealing the regulation banning their use.

The Nevada Gaming Commission will make a final ruling at a later date.

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    • The decades-old ban was enacted to keep betting lines from being transmitted outside the state and to discourage layoff wagering by illegal bookmakers inside Nevada casinos. However, casino representatives want to end the prohibition because of the advent of Internet sports books and the countless number of Web sites that transmit sports wagering information.

    Cell phone technology has advanced well beyond the capabilities in effect when the ban was implemented.

    Two of the three members of the Gaming Control Board said numerous other regulations and measures are in place to ensure that layoff wagering, in which bets are "laid off" to other parties to balance risk, doesn't occur.

    "Clearly, this a regulation that is antiquated and causes more problems than it is worth," Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said. Control board members said the predominance of cellular telephones challenged sports book employees to uphold he ban.

    The proposed regulation change was part of a package of proposed revisions to several Nevada gaming regulations. Removing the ban on cell phones, however, covered the majority of the debate.

    Gaming attorney Tony Cabot, representing the Nevada Pari-mutuel Wagering Association, said relaxing the ban on cell phones in sports books might spur further development of mobile gaming technology, where customers can wager within the walls of the casino using a wireless, handheld device.

    Cabot said sports wagering is one of the concepts for mobile gaming technology and the devices have a similar look and capabilities of cellular phones.

    "This ban is truly counterproductive to the advent of mobile gaming," Cabot said.

    Control board member Mark Clayton said he was uncomfortable with removing the ban on cell phones, especially when the agency's chief of the enforcement division, Jerry Markling, was opposed to repealing it.

    However, Clayton supported the recommendation after fellow control board member Randy Sayre, a former enforcement chief who steered through industry discussion on the regulation changes, said he was comfortable with the ban's removal.

    "We have a number of enforcement tools still in place," Sayre said. "We are not relaxing our standards."

    Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.

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    Vegasbrad wrote on July 11, 2008 05:24 PM: he ban was actually originally intended to keep pari-mutual horse wagering on the up-and-up when there was a significant satellite delay between the track and the race book in Vegas - enough time to make a call from the track after the race started and bet on the front-runner. Not the case any more. Stupid law and unenforceable anyway, it gives the GCB the power to fine any Sportsbook they want since nobody pays attention to it and security can't be in the book 24/7.

    Tambora, you're an idiot. The employees are just following the antiquated law. If you want to complain about not being able to show off your I'm-so-cool bluetooth in a sportsbook, complain about the stupid law that forces security to yell at your dumb as$.

    Annoyed, relax. Just start yelling at the TV in the direction of the idiot on the phone. Do it loud enough and they won't be able to talk even if they're allowed to. Who's quiet in a book anyway? Where's the fun in that? Stay at home if you want quiet - casino's are for having fun and being loud, not finding minor inconveniences to whine about. You gonna ask them to turn down the bright lights so you can see better too? Some people...


    jed wrote on July 11, 2008 03:15 PM: I will have to disappoint you, annoyed, because when I go to a casino, the cell phone stays home.


    LVBear wrote on July 11, 2008 03:08 PM: The ban is ridiculous. A rare bit of common sense from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, even if for the wrong reasons.

    --------------------------


    Opinions and Commentary on the Gaming Industry: www.TheBearGrowls.com


    John Hardina wrote on July 11, 2008 02:20 PM: Not many homeless have cell phones, but the pimps do. Bet they'll be "working the phones" while watching the games.


    annoyed wrote on July 11, 2008 02:11 PM: I'm sure that jed is one of the idiots I'll have to listen to. Shut up, hillbilly. Go back to Bevery Hills.


    jed wrote on July 11, 2008 02:04 PM: You must have quite keen ears, annoyed, to hear phone conversations over the noise from the slot machines.


    annoyed wrote on July 11, 2008 01:26 PM: Great, now I'm going to have to listen to some idiot's phone conversation while I try to watch a game. Isn't it enough that I have to listen to some moron's conversation while I'm waiting in line at the store, at the movies, etc. Put the phone away. You're not that important.


    jed wrote on July 11, 2008 08:56 AM: The cell phone ban is virtually unenforceable. People continually walk past sports books inside casinos with cell phones at their ears, oblivious that they are anywhere near a sports book and of the signs that prohibit phone use. Anyone who wants to communicate information can simply write it down, walk ten feet away, and make the call there.


    G Unit wrote on July 11, 2008 08:31 AM: I always thought not having a cell phone in a Sports Book was pretty silly. The odds are posted everywhere these days, have been for years. What harm does a cell phone do? I think it was just the sports books way of stopping people from easily telling others what their odds were on games. Sports betting is a waste of money anyways.


    skippy wrote on July 11, 2008 06:45 AM: Randy Sayre isn't a former enforcement chief, as the story says. He was investigations chief before he was appointed to the board and Keith Copher preceded Markling as enforcement chief.


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