The Nevada Gaming Control Board Thursday will discuss the regulation of high-end gaming salons in the state’s casinos. At the workshop, members of the casino industry are expected to suggest regulatory changes.
Two of the three items on the agenda deal with private salons for wealthy players.
Board Chairman Kirk Hendrick wondered whether Nevada is attracting the biggest players to the state, bringing in tax revenue.
“It’s been quite a while since gaming salons were legalized in Nevada and regulations were passed,” Hendrick said. “When this was passed several years ago, it was because certain whales didn’t come to Nevada because they were afraid of being watched while gambling.
“This is an opportunity for all the stakeholders to weigh in on what’s good for Nevada and the future of gaming salons. When the salons were created, were they too narrow in their focus? We’ll also talk about what games should be allowed in the salons.”
The first item on the agenda considers public access to salons and required surveillance and security coverage.
“My guess is the discussion will be about more space off the property floor, like Resorts World has public gaming upstairs,” Hendrick said. “Maybe they’d like to have private gaming upstairs. What would be the criteria and can you have enforcement around it? Is it good for the state? Would there be requirements that you have signage if it’s public.”
Casinos are required to receive regulatory approval for salons, defined as “enclosed gaming facilities located anywhere at a resort hotel that holds a non-restricted gaming license of which admission is based on the financial criteria of the salon patron as established by the licensee.
“Financial criteria for admission of a patron to a gaming salon shall include a front money deposit of at least $300,000, or a $300,000 line of credit, or a combination thereof of at least $300,000. Resorts can only admit into the salon those individuals who meet the approved financial criteria and retain for five years documentation evidencing each salon patron’s qualifications under the criteria.”
“Resorts are required to maintain a log that contains the name of each patron of the salon and the times each patron enters and leaves.
“The resort must ensure that at all times the gaming salon is open to a patron for play and that at least one table game is available for play. Minimum wagers within the gaming salon shall not be less than $500 for slot machines. Minimum wagers within the gaming salon shall be set at the discretion of the licensee for table games.
Salons can’t operate in a player’s hotel room and they may be accompanied by as many guests as permitted by the license holder.
“The licensee may permit guests to continue wagering during periods of time when the salon patron leaves the gaming salon for a period not to exceed six hours.”
The second agenda item focuses on the games permitted in salons. Blackjack, baccarat, and high-end slots are typically offered, Hendrick said.
“The question is what these high rollers want to be in salons,” Hendrick said. “If they’re turning away high-end players who want to play a game not being offered, that’s a conversation I would like to have. Do we want to look at anything else? I believe some of the operators will ask about poker. It’s never been a private-salon game. Can we effectively regulate, enforce it, and make sure it’s fair? We hate to have someone say they allow it (somewhere else). If we can effectively regulate it, bring that tax money to Nevada. Don’t let it go somewhere else.”
For the third item, in regards to sports data service providers for sports books, the Board will consider establishing registration requirements for them. The Board wants to know who is doing this and if these companies are properly vetted. No proposed regulatory language has been developed for the meeting, Hendrick said.
“These are groups that aren’t licensees, but what services are they providing for licensed sports books?” Hendrick said. “We’re trying to get a handle on who’s out there in the industry that is not under the regulatory umbrella. I’m not saying anybody is doing anything wrong, but we want to have that conversation.”
