Latest in Vegas: Gambling in taxi cabs

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000 | 5:33 a.m.

If you just can't wait to get to the casinos, try gambling in the taxi cab ride there.

No, taxi riders won't be losing money as the meter rolls, but they will be able to play video poker, blackjack or slots for free while racking up coupons from local advertisers.

Harry Truang, chief executive of Captivads, developed the $1 million Inride Entertainment System, a flat, touch-screen entertainment system for taxi riders.

Ten of the machines are already installed in Yellow-Checker-Star Transportation cabs with plans to have 500 to 600 outfitted by mid-November.

"(Tourists are) very interested in talking to our cab drivers, finding where the action is and where to eat. ... This is just a natural adjunct to that," said Jack Owens, general manager of Yellow-Checker-Star.

Ads will cost between $2 and $7 per cab a week depending on the length of time and frequency of display. Truang said the system can accommodate 250 different advertisers.

The machines will eventually be able to take advantage of wireless high-speed Internet connections to update information on the go, and allow riders to make hotel and restaurant reservations, Truang said.

"We've always done advertising on the top signs, the back sign and in the cab. This is just the latest cutting edge," Owens said.