Calling a bet as the river is flipped brings a different feeling of excitement similar to being in a new place for the first time. A large percentage of the 40 million regular poker players reported by Topline Findings have become jet setters, given that most poker tournaments are held in different countries almost every week. Poker games have evolved through the years. Now, they’re are no longer limited to seedy backrooms. Poker games now being played in the flashiest and most luxurious casinos around the world. Is it possible that in the coming years, they may also be enjoyed in Casino Jet Lounges?
Casino Jet Lounge designed by Jean-Pierre Alfano and Frédérique Houssard
The Casino Jet Lounge is a cabin redesign that adds a casino lounge to the front end of an airplane. The idea came from two French designers – Jean-Pierre Alfano of AirJet Designs and Frédérique Houssard, the founder of Designescence – who wanted to break the monotony of having to travel 14 hours and not doing anything productive. The concept of aircraft casino is not entirely novel. In 1981, Singapore Airlines gambled by installing lightweight slot machines in the aisles of the aircrafts operating between Singapore and San Francisco. The project was withdrawn after two months because of the operational difficulties it posed.
Another attempt was made by Swissair in the 1990’s when they installed gaming software on their in-flight entertainment system. Passengers enjoyed casino games like keno, poker, and blackjack until a Swissair plane crashed in 1998 due to failure of the in-flight entertainment system.
Shannon Shorr at 2014 WPT Lucky Hearts Event
Poker superstar Shannon Shorr, who finished second in the Partypoker-sponsored WPT Lucky Hearts Event, considers travelling as an activity that has tremendously changed his perspective. He even advises young people to go out and travel when presented with the opportunity. A clear mind helps a lot when one plays poker. Travelling can give you that state of mind. So, being able to play a game of poker while globe trotting is a welcome treat. In an interview with CNN, Alfano said that putting up a casino jet lounge is not just an entertainment idea. It should be seen as a social space where passengers can do more aside from watching movies. He further added that big aircrafts have spacious rest areas in the cargo area that can be rearranged to accommodate poker tables and that playing live poker would not pose any mechanical or operational problems for the aircraft.
Poker continues to evolve and it may not be long before poker players can stack their chips up in the air.
