Cell phones have been banned in sports books for several years. The ban has been lifted for a year on a trial basis. It is still illegal to make bets for the person on the other end of that phone, it is still illegal to run services that make bets for fees.

The gaming commission says that they can reinstate the ban just as quick as it was lifted if the policy is abused. And I feel very confident that there are plenty of people who will try and ruin it for everyone else.

It doesn't matter to me since I very seldom hang out in sports books. It would be sad to be watching a race or a game and have some loudmouth carrying on a meaningless conversation with his bluetooth headset next to you.

They're also banned at the blackjack tables at Horseshoe. I haven't figured out whether that's out of courtesy to the other customers or to prevent cheating. If someone wants to make or take a call, we have them get up and step away from the table.

I guess, theoretically, you could use a cell phone camera to take pictures of the table across from you, count the cards there, and table hop when conditions are favorable. Maybe, anyway. Maybe I'm just whistling in the wind here.

Cheers,

Tim the Dealer

I can see both sides of the issue. Nice thing about cell phone usage being banned at the tables and in sports books is that you can enjoy your time there without listening to some rachet jaw that has to spill out his/her whole miserable life story to the person on the other end and loud enough that everyone within eyesight can hear it.

But I also dislike the idea that if I get a call or have to make one, while I'm sitting at the bar or in the lounge area of a sports book, that I have get up and walk 100-200 feet away just to make or receive a 1-2 minute call.

Personally I'm not the rachet jaw type on my cell phone, most of my calls last about 1-2 minutes and it's done. If getting up to walk 100-200 feet away from the sports book area to make or take a call means enjoying the atmosphere of the sports book without rachet jaw cell phone users I'll live with the ban anyday.

As for banning them at the tables, my experience has been that all you have to do is get up from the table and step a few few away from the table to make or take your call. That I can live with too. But if someone calls me during a hot roll at the crap table, they WILL get my voice mail until the hot shoot is over.