As reported by: Philadelphia Inquirer
The Nevada Gaming Commission approved rules yesterday that will permit casinos to offer wireless handheld gambling devices to people who want to gamble away from the casino floor.

The 5-0 vote means that the devices will now be tested in various casinos here and in the commission's technology lab over the next three to six months. Once the testing is complete, makers of wireless gambling devices can seek approval of their products for use in a casino's public areas, such as restaurants or the pool area.

Several casino industry executives said after the public hearing that gamblers might start using the devices in Las Vegas by the end of the year.

David Loflin, president and chief executive officer of Diamond I Inc., a Baton Rouge, La., company that has developed a handheld wireless gambling system, said Nevada's legalization of such devices created a market for his firm. "It's definitely the beginning of a new era," he said.
The devices, ranging in size from a handheld video-game player to a slate or tablet PC, can be programmed for individual games of blackjack, poker, roulette and even slots.
Last summer, Nevada became the first state to legalize the devices for use inside casino hotels. State gambling regulators have been crafting rules governing how they would work ever since.

Last month, Atlantic City operators asked New Jersey legislators to hold a hearing on allowing similar devices inside casinos there. A five-member Senate committee in Trenton will decide in the coming months whether to introduce legislation on the issue.
Article By: Philadelphia Inquirer