As Planking Fad Spreads To Craps Tables Regulators May Get Involved
added 08.09.2011, 7:57AM
'It's just gone too far. Bingo is one thing. You can always close the bingo room. When it spreads to other areas of the casino floor its a huge problem and something needs to be done.'
Those are the words of one veteran pit boss at a major Las Vegas Strip casino who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal by the increasingly violent and bizarre denizens of Silver State bingo halls. The city's gaming industry has already had to deal with ill mannered young adults, but the latest threat to decent gaming patrons has come from a much older demographic. And now there's concerns that its spreading beyond the bingo area.
The latest target is the craps pits--many of the bored, drunken old folks who have grown tired of 'cutting up' in the bingo area are roaming the casino proper looking for what they perceive as bigger thrills. There have been several reports of the now ubiquitious 'planking' fad taking on a new diminision with liquored up geriatrics essentially 'body surfing' across the craps tables. Initially they limited their targets to closed or out of play surfaces, but there have been reports that elders have started lying prostrate across craps tables during play forcing security to remove them and creating a very ugly scene.
Now the Nevada Gaming Comission may get involved. There are unconfirmed reports that the NGC is looking at making planking a felony in any casino area. According to well placed sources, there are several ideas under consideration--including one that would make 'planking' in a casino a specific felony.
Some casino executives are in favor of a crackdown on 'planking' but others aren't so sure. Most of the ideas under discussion involve only the casino area, but some fear that the increasingly brazen behaving seniors would just take their antics off the casino floor into a nightclub or buffet area that wouldn't be covered by the law. Others are concerned about the cost of enforcement and litigation. Still others think it would send a message that they're targeting bingo players and/or other elderly gamblers without just cause. Finally, there's also a concern that it would discourage foreign travelers from countries where 'planking' is more socially acceptable from traveling to Las Vegas.
It's obviously a complex issue, but as the geriatric client base continues to act in anti-social and downright bizarre ways it's definitely a problem that will need to be dealt with. For craps players, our advice is the same as it is for bingo enthusiasts--stay at home where it's safe and play craps online and one of many online casinos.
