The First Airborne Casino Underway

Israel introduces plans for the worlds first airborne casino this week. Ephraim Sneh, Israel´s Transportation Minister officiated and approved the novel plan.

The airborne casino is expected to take off from Ben-Gurion International Airport three times a day. The free ride is about four hours long, giving passengers enough time to enjoy an array of slot machines and roulette wheels while flying outside the Israeli airspace.

The airborne casino is expected to seat 230 passengers on a transformed Boeing 747 jet. Israeli Aircraft Industries are awaiting the arrival of an Icelandic Air Atlanta jet next month, hoping to start revamping the jet as soon as possible.

However, anti-gambling advocates, including General Elyakim Rubinstein voiced criticism of the airborne casino proposal saying, the decision of the Transportation Ministry is questionable. Gambling is not legal in Israel. We use all means to prevent gambling and the accompanying criminal developments. On the other hand, the transportation minister argues on the fact that there should be no objection to such a plan saying it will bring more than $50 million {250 million shekels} of work to the IAI each year.

In the interim, sound reports say that there is an obligatory requirement attached. The planes operators would have to deposit their income in Israeli banks and pay taxes to the Israeli authorities. The first flight is expected to take-off in early next year.