THE US DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoT) is to retain its ban on gambling on commercial-airline flights to and from the USA by all carriers at least until a national commission has considered the wider issue of gambling legislation in the USA.
The policy re-affirmation came with release of a DoT study on gambling on commercial aircraft. It follows Singapore Airlines' decision to join British Airways and Virgin Atlantic in offering in-flight gambling where permissible. The carrier will offer the service by early 1997. No other airline offers on-board video gambling.
The DoT says that the US Congress is considering legislation to create a commission to look at issues related to gambling. The DoT says that it does not want to recommend changes in the current law before the commission's examination. In the study, the US Federal Aviation Administration says that electronic entertainment systems in operation, including those with gambling, are safe to operate aboard commercial aircraft.
Source: Flight International
