It just became a lot easier to place a bet in some Las Vegas sportsbooks with the introduction of the eDeck. The M Resort has been the first to use the hand-held sports betting device called the eDeck, which allows gamblers to place bets in real time from anywhere within the property. M Resort’s success using the new device has prompted other casinos such as Venetian and Palazzo to jump on the eDeck bandwagon.  In the casino business more bets equate to more revenue, which makes us wonder why it took Las Vegas sportsbooks so long to embrace the handheld revolution.

In Las Vegas, the casinos do everything they can to keep you on the gaming floor so that you’re spending as much time as possible gambling during your stay. A company called Cantor Gaming has realized there are still a lot of missed opportunities where a casino guest might be away at the poker tables, slot machines, eating at a restaurant, lounging by the pool, or just relaxing in the room. This idea triggered the company to spend 5 years developing the eDeck, which is a wifi equipped portable gaming device allowing casino patrons to gamble for real money wherever they happen to be on the casino’s property.

To use the eDeck is fairly simple, players have to setup an account, fund it before the first use and you’re ready to start betting. In the future the eDeck will allow gamblers to play casino favorites like blackjack, baccarat, slots, video poker, roulette and the much anticipated live-action poker. An eDeck can be used anywhere in the casino (except gaming tables), so long as it’s within the range of the Radio Frequency Identification chip given to the gambler, all systems go. For the purpose of additional security, all monetary transactions are completed on a back-end server to ensure people’s money is safe.

This new system, which was approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission in 2008, not only makes it easier for people to bet, but also increases revenue for sports books. Instead of simply betting once on the outcome of a game, bettors can use an eDeck to view odds and bet multiple times. Plus it offers betting throughout the game on everything from a first down to whether a kicker makes or misses a field goal.

The big question is whether this eDeck is good or bad for gamblers. While the devices make life easier by allowing gamblers to place a bet without leaving their seat, one has to wonder if it will make up for the experience of placing a bet at the ticket window. Also something to consider, the eDeck makes placing bets more convenient, which could see people over betting. Some casinos might be reluctant to adopt the eDeck device in fear of burning out their players.

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