In
The News
Gambling Takes To
The Skies
America's Las Vegas
Sands Corporation has purchased two
airplanes and is retrofitting them
to serve as private jets ferrying
high-rollers from Hong Kong to the
company's two Nevada casinos.
The two Lockheed L-1011 TriStar wide-body
planes will also be fitted with high-limit
baccarat tables for passengers to
play during the 14-hour flight from
Asia.
'In a nutshell, we plan to offer
patrons travelling to or from The
Venetian from Hong Kong the opportunity
to play table games only and on credit
only with no cash play on an L-1011
outfitted with table games and a surveillance
booth and digital surveillance equipment
while the aircraft is in international
air space over international waters,'
said Frederick Kraus, Vice-President
and General Counsel for Las Vegas
Sands.
According to a spokesman for the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),
there were no safety issues prohibiting
gambling while in flight with the
Nevada Gaming Control Board stating
that there was nothing in the State's
laws halting the activity.
'It looks like the law doesn't address
any gaming tax provisions,' said Dennis
Neilander, Chairman for the Control
Board.
'There are some references for income
tax and any wins by a customer might
have to be recognised for income tax
matters. There may also be some corporate
taxes involved.'
Gambling on private aircraft is viewed
as similar to cruise ships and the
casino may only be open while the
craft is in international waters.
The company has already filed a Foreign
Gaming Notification Statement with
the Control Board stating that it
planed to conduct foreign gaming in
international waters over global airspace.
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