<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=450 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>In-flight gambling on the way?
<!--startclickprintexclude--></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top><!--endclickprintexclude-->If you're easily bored on planes, maybe a little blackjack will help pass the time.
November 3, 2004: 11:46 AM EST
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<!--endclickprintexclude-->LONDON (Reuters) - Airline passengers may soon be able to while away the air miles with in-flight gambling if low-cost carrier Ryanair's latest cash-generation scheme becomes reality.
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<!--endclickprintexclude-->Dublin-based Ryanair, which has hit the jackpot by charging passengers for food, baggage and movies, said on Tuesday gambling on board its planes may be the next big thing.
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--var clickExpire = "11/17/2004";//--></SCRIPT>Chief executive Michael O'Leary said the usual government restrictions on European land-bound gambling operations were unlikely to apply in the air.
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While it is some time away, O'Leary said the technology does exist to adapt the airline's new in-flight entertainment systems for the use of gambling with credit cards. He described the revenue potential as "enormous."
Gambling operators have expressed interest, although there are no formal talks underway.
<!--startclickprintexclude--><!--startclickprintexclude--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!--startclickprintexclude--></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top><!--endclickprintexclude-->If you're easily bored on planes, maybe a little blackjack will help pass the time.
November 3, 2004: 11:46 AM EST
<!--startclickprintexclude--></TD></TR><TR><TD class=storytext vAlign=top>
<!--endclickprintexclude-->LONDON (Reuters) - Airline passengers may soon be able to while away the air miles with in-flight gambling if low-cost carrier Ryanair's latest cash-generation scheme becomes reality.
<!--startclickprintexclude-->
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--var clickExpire = "11/17/2004";//--></SCRIPT>Chief executive Michael O'Leary said the usual government restrictions on European land-bound gambling operations were unlikely to apply in the air.
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<SCRIPT>if(cnnEnableCL){if(location.hostname.indexOf('.cnn.com')==-1){cnnAddCSI('contextualLinks','http://brun8tmp.turner.com/ctxtlink/jsp/money-story.jsp','origin=money&site=cnn_monnews_dyn_ctxt&category=moneynews&url=http://robots.cnnfn.com/2004/11/03/news/funny/airline_gambling.reut/index.htm');}else{cnnAddCSI('contextualLinks','http://cl.cnn.com/ctxtlink/jsp/money-story.jsp','origin=money&site=cnn_monnews_dyn_ctxt&category=moneynews&url=http://robots.cnnfn.com/2004/11/03/news/funny/airline_gambling.reut/index.htm');}}</SCRIPT><IFRAME id=iframecontextualLinks style=\"VISIBILITY: hidden\" name=iframecontextualLinks align=right src="http://cl.cnn.com/ctxtlink/jsp/money-story.jsp?domId=contextualLinks&time=1099533582950&origin=money&site=cnn_monnews_dyn_ctxt&category=moneynews&url=http://robots.cnnfn.com/2004/11/03/news/funny/airline_gambling.reut/index.htm" width=0 height=0></IFRAME>"I don't know who would stop you. It is like duty-free; you are in international waters," he told reporters.
While it is some time away, O'Leary said the technology does exist to adapt the airline's new in-flight entertainment systems for the use of gambling with credit cards. He described the revenue potential as "enormous."
Gambling operators have expressed interest, although there are no formal talks underway.
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