High-flying gambling takes on new meaning
16th February, 2008
Chinese gambling enthusiasts will soon be able to practice their card skills at 30,000 ft while they wind their way from Hong Kong to Las Vegas on board a luxury gambling jet.
Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has reportedly purchased two Lockheed L-1011 TriStar planes that will be specially fitted with high-limit baccarat tables for casino gambling enthusiasts to play during their 14-hour flight.
The casino operator plans to market the service to the top-end consumers and will provide luxury first-class services to all those on-board as they await their arrival at Sin City.
Experts say the laws governing gambling on private aircraft are roughly equivalent to those on cruise ships, so it is likely that the high-flying casino will only be open while the craft is above international waters.
"In a nutshell, we plan to offer patrons travelling to … [LVS casino] The Venetian from Hong Kong the opportunity to play table games only and on-credit only with no cash," said Frederick Kraus, vice president of Las Vegas Sands.
The earliest chartered gambling flights are thought to have been operated in the mid-1980s between Melbourne, Australia, and the Tasmanian capital Hobart.
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