RGJ.com – From grocery stores to government agencies, there seems to be an app for nearly every entity. It comes as no surprise, then, that mobile apps are beginning to spill over into casino gaming.
How far mobile gambling may go remains to be seen — and depends on state laws. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, poker and sports betting are the only forms of remote mobile app-based gambling currently legal in Nevada.
For example, in Nevada, it’s possible to view the entire William Hill US sports book wagering menu on a mobile device and place bets from the palm of your hand, or qualify for the World Series of Poker by playing online poker using the WSOP app.
Other properties, such as the Eldorado Hotel Casino, offer user-friendly, non-gaming apps that allow you to book rooms, dining reservations, buy show tickets and access other services.
Moreover, social-gaming apps — where no real-money bets are placed — are growing in popularity, and at least one local casino property has found a way to connect its social-gaming app to the possibility of winning real cash.
The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa launched Atlantis Reels in June 2013, and the property’s executives say they hope to be ahead of the curve when it comes to app-based gaming.
“To my knowledge, we’re the only casino in the country that has a mobile contest app,” said David Farahi, chief operating officer of Monarch Casino & Resort, which operates the Atlantis. “It’s totally free to play, and you can win prizes, but it’s not gambling — there’s no way to wager a dollar.”
