New smart-phone app allows gamblers to phone it in

American Wagering Inc. has launched the first-ever program for BlackBerry devices just in time for the kickoff of the NFL and college football seasons.

The company, which operates nearly 60 Leroy's Horse and Sports Place sports books throughout the state, plans to launch new apps for iPhones, Droids, and Windows-based phones in the near future.

I'm all-in on this, Vic Salerno, American Wagering's chief executive, told AP. We've reinvented the company entirely.

Unfortunately for gamblers outside the state, the app won't work in the rest of the U.S. Nevada is the only place where sports gambling is legal but its technology is so advanced that it allows visitors from other states place bets while in Nevada, even if they're not inside a casino.

The application requires bettors to appear at a sports book in person to create an account, allowing the company to verify a person's age and link their account to one specific phone.

When that person logs into the system, a mix of GPS and cellular tower technology verify the person is within the state's borders before they can place a bet.

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