| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |  | | | Gambling on your cell phones
- Wednesday, 6 Jul 2005
A new program for internet-capable cell phones is putting casino-style gaming in a U.S. gambler’s pockets, allowing real money wagering from anywhere they can get a phone signal, according to several U.S. news channels.
“It’s the casino in your pocket,” CNET’s Brian Cooley said, “Cell phones are personal, gambling is personal. They go together in consumer’s minds. It’s the next big thing. While Americans have long been able to download casino-style cell phone games for fun, the Web site Poker Room has introduced a phone service that allows players to wager real money and gamble against live players.
“At this point, we only offer Texas Hold’Em poker and also slot machines,” says Poker Room spokesman Ira Gladnikoff. With the new service, players can bet between 50 cents and $300 a hand, the news channels reported. The federal government wants to stop online gambling, fearing children will be able to place bets. The National Council on Problem Gambling thinks the sheer convenience of cell phones will make it too easy to bet it all.
“There’s whole host of risk factors,” National Council on Problem Gambling spokesman Keith Whyte said. “I have no idea how an age limit could be verified now; nor how, even if the age limit was verified, that you could be certain who was using the phone.”
Poker Room said it has gone to great lengths to verify age through credit card information and that its services are meant for grownups on the go.
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