SEARCH NEWS:

 

Craps, Roulette Knockoffs Test Limits of Gambling Law

"It's a full-size, felt-covered craps table. Instead of dice, it uses lightweight balls, numbered one to six, selected by an air-popper machine.

"…Roulette is prohibited, too. Yet check out a Welsh company's `Multi-player Roulette Casino.' It has a real roulette wheel spinning under a plastic dome, surrounded by video consoles at which players place bets.

"…Crossover products like these demonstrate the fuzzy legal parameters of California's tribal casino industry.

"…Under casino compacts ratified last year after passage of Proposition 1A, California tribes can offer four things: slot machines, lotteries, house-banked card games and horse-track wagering.

"Craps, roulette, baccarat and other Nevada-style table games are barred under state law, and the tribes did not seek allowances for them in their gaming compacts with Gov. Gray Davis.

"Even so, manufacturers are producing electronic versions of at least some of these games, and California tribes are plugging them in as slot machines.

"…Casino managers are leery of getting into more realistic spinoffs unless, or until, they get the OK from tribal and state regulators.

"…Sparc's inventor, Mark Jones, is a Sycuan Casino shift manager who says he's invested $35,000 and hundreds of hours in developing his game. He says his lawyer has assured him it's California-legal but is doing more research.

"…Michael Lombardi, a gaming consultant for several California tribes, including the La Jolla band, said most tribes aren't interested in testing the legal parameters at this point. They're too busy plugging in slots…"

< Gaming News