Legality of using electronic devices in different countries

In the UK if you use a computer or cell or something to help you get an edge in a casino game it is legal (as you are not interfering with the game itself)



I was just wondering if anyone knew the law in any of the following countries. I don't care if the casino "frowns on it" just if it is actually against the law:

Vegas/ Atlantic City
Canada
Singapore
Macau
Cambodia
Philippines
Australia

Thanks in advance!

They even have charging stations at the roulette wheel. Have fun.

Vegas has seven year sentence for any electronic device. Philippines probably has seven men with machetes.

Nevada law enforcement requires probable cause to conduct a body search to determine whether a gambler is hiding a cheating device under his or her clothing.

what could probably cause be?

"He was betting small then all of a sudden he bet big and won WTF!?!"

"Is that an electronic cheating device in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

Quote: bw

"Is that an electronic cheating device in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

haha exactly!

Quote: darkstar

Vegas/ Atlantic City
Canada
Singapore
Macau
Cambodia
Philippines
Australia)

May I ask why are you interested in this question for those specific countries? That's a pretty weird list of countries.

Here is the law in Nevada:

Quote: Nevada Revised Statutes

NRS 465.075 Use or possession of device, software or hardware to obtain advantage at playing game prohibited
It is unlawful for any person to use, possess with the intent to use or assist another person in using or possessing with the intent to use any computerized, electronic, electrical or mechanical device, or any software or hardware, or any combination thereof, which is designed, constructed, altered or programmed to obtain an advantage at playing any game in a licensed gaming establishment or any game that is offered by a licensee or affiliate, including, without limitation, a device that:
1. Projects the outcome of the game;
2. Keeps track of cards played or cards prepared for play in the game;
3. Analyzes the probability of the occurrence of an event relating to the game; or
4. Analyzes the strategy for playing or betting to be used in the game,
except as may be made available as part of an approved game or otherwise permitted by the Commission.

The penalty is 1-6 years in prison plus an optional fine of up to $10,000, except that on a first offense, the prison sentence may be waived and only a fine imposed. (Also, on a second or subsequent offense, probation and suspended sentence are not allowed; prison time must be served, although the convict usually gets out about 40% early for "good behavior".)

In AC Counting is legal (and it is illegal to ban counters from casinos). But using a device or cellphone to assist or do the count for you with counting is illegal (it is only legal if done complelty in your head). So you can be arrested for using a electronic device while counting. But there are plenty of apps you can get for smartphones that help with counts, even ones that have a display that makes it appear like a calling screen and you hit different buttons to add or minus the count or individual cards if desired.

As for other devices I don't know. I always hear about some sort of device that tracks roulette balls and predicts where they will land, not perfectly, but it is accurate enough that you will win more than you lose if you bet in the predicted vicinity (hence gain an edge), but I have never actually seen it. In Vegas (based on what others have said) it sounds like these would be illegal, but in AC I am unsure of any laws regarding devices other than the counting devices I have mentioned. But I imagine with a roulette tracker, even if it is legal in AC they will kick you out for using it.

Those are the only devices that I have ever heard of that can provide an edge without intruding on the mechanics of a game (assuming the rumors about ther roulette tracker are true which they probably are not).

Electronic devices to "gain an advantage not available to all players" is illegal in most, if not all, US jurisdictions. Other countries... no clue.

Quote: darkstar

I was just wondering if anyone knew the law in any of the following countries. I don't care if the casino "frowns on it" just if it is actually against the law:

Vegas/ Atlantic City
Canada
Singapore
Macau
Cambodia
Philippines
Australia

In some of those places you listed, do you really think they even have law at all? I mean, do laws really matter in those places?

Quote: pokerface

In some of those places you listed, do you really think they even have law at all?

It's gotta be illegal in Singapore, chewing gum is illegal there, iirc.

Well just invent/discover something better than electricity. They said it could never be done without a need, but now there is. Maybe look into the same reality predicting roulette with a computer is only frowned upon and you'll find a better substitute for electricity.

Welcome MoeHoward and Darkstar to the forum!

Probably only relevant to Nevada, but something that has changed dramatically in this decade is that the former prohibition of electronic & communication & computing devices specifically in the sportsbook area of casino lincensees is not only gone for most purposes (just don't be using it for betting on Bodog or Twinspires or sending lines to Vinny the Weasel back in Philly while sitting in Mr. Wynn's place), but it is now pretty well mandatory to have good facilities to accommodate that stuff, with wifi in the book and power outlets installed at least at the IPT (individual player terminal) advance deposit betting player stations, if you want to have a serious book that's competitive with the joint down the street. A lot of race & sports entrances still have signs on the wall that could be taken to imply differently, but they don't mean what they used to.

At MGM they ban them at the betting window. Take two steps back and they don't care.

Quote:

In the UK if you use a computer or cell or something to help you get an edge in a casino game it is legal

I can't see where UK gambling law states that devices are legal. The absence of prosecution of someone for having used a device is not the same as a device being legal. It just means that no one has bothered to test the law. Maybe the OP can clarify what he means by "legal."

Quote: MoeHoward

I can't see where UK gambling law states that devices are legal. The absence of prosecution of someone for having used a device is not the same as a device being legal. It just means that no one has bothered to test the law. Maybe the OP can clarify what he means by "legal."

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/section/42

Wow what a terrible law. Basically:

"Cheating is illegal. Even if you don't improve your chances of winning, you can still be cheating. The term 'cheating' is general, and we are not going to define it. Interfering with the game is cheating, but so is some other stuff that we are not going to tell you about. Good luck!"

I am pretty sure that anywhere in the US, this would be thrown out as being too vague. This is 100x worse than the Nevada device law.

I think I read somewhere that the law in the UK was changed a couple of years ago making the use of a device illegal.
But whether there is a specific law in a country about devices or not, it is a very bad idea to use a device.
Most well regulated countries (western and other developed countries) will have either a device law or a general cheating law. The use of the device can be either directly against a spedicifc device law or could be considered as 'cheating' under general 'cheating law'. You really do not want to test the law of such a country that even though there is no specific device law, you are not foul of general 'cheating law' by using a device.
As for not very well regulated countries, you really do not want to get caught with a device. The law is whatever the casino says the law is and the consequences might be more severe.

In Ontario, Canada there is a provincial regulation in the Gaming Control Act that says the operator (casino) may not permit any customer to use an electronic or mechanical device. It's a weird way of making it illegal to use one, but it is illegal.