Apparently Ryanair is offering inflight gambling on their flights.

Here is a quote from the article:

quote:

This isn't the first time airlines have thought about onboard gambling. Singapore Airlines once installed two slot machines, only two feet tall, with plastic rather than metal cases to save weight, at the back of a plane. In the late 1990s, Swissair introduced on-board video gambling, followed by Lauda Air. Singapore tried again. Harrahs entered into a joint venture with Sky Games.

But a terrible crash and U.S. laws ended the experiments. Swissair flight 111 crashed off Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia on September 2, 1998. There is a moving memorial on the rock-strewn coast for the 229 people who died in sight of the land. It was, and still is, generally accepted that the MD-11 was brought down by a fire caused by the onboard entertainment and gambling system.

Swissair had been operating under an exemption to an American law, the Gorton Amendment, passed in 1994, prohibiting gambling on planes flying into or out of the U.S.

Senator Slade Gorton (R.-Wash.) had fought gambling before. In fact, his opposition to Indian gaming eventually led to his not being reelected, when gaming tribes contributed millions of dollars to his opponent.

http://www.rgtonline.com/Article.cfm?ArticleId=61920&CategoryName=Gaming

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BF,

All In At 36,000 Feet
January 03, 2006
Paul Sandells


Casinos and card rooms have been common place on ocean liners for decades now. Recently Ryanair announced their intentions to take gambling a little higher... into the clouds.

Irish carriers, Ryanair, are well known for their low cost flying options and "cheap and cheerful" style. However, things could be about to change for passengers on this airline as plans for on board casinos and poker have been unveiled.

Described as "a real wallet phenomenon." by a Ryanair spokesman, the mile high gambling dens could be up and running as soon as March of this year. Ryanair will be introducing a new on board system known as "Digebox". 6,000 units are planned, each can tap into a wealth of real time gambling games.

Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said "I think these things will become as common as the in-flight magazine."

O'Leary is so confident that the Digeboxes will bring in so much extre revenue for Ryanair, that he sees a time in the future where everyone will be able to fly for free.

This type of gambling may seem new and revolutionary to many flyers. However, Singapore Airlines have tried something similar before. Installing two slot machines, only two feet tall, with plastic rather than metal cases to save weight, at the back of a plane. In the late 1990s. Swissair have introduced on board video gambling too. Since the tragic Swissair crash off Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia on September 2, 1998, which was generally accepted to be caused by a fire in the on board gaming system, few others have followed suit.

Where does this leave the UK poker player, though? Could it be the next time you hop on board a flight to Vegas, you'll be faced with a lively ten hour cash game? rather than leg cramps, bad food and even worse body odour? Perhaps not in the immediate future but, if Ryanair's Digeboxes are a hit, it's surely a case of "when" rather than "if".

http://uk.pokernews.com/news/2006/3/ryanair-onboard-casino.htm

As I recall, the gambling that swissair offered on it's flights, was a complete failure as it generated no revenue whatsoever. Apparently passengers opted not to use it.