Gaming on Nevada’s legislative radar, even if not the focus

By J.D. Morris

Published Monday, May 18, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Updated Monday, May 18, 2015 | 3:46 p.m.

Nevada’s casino industry hasn’t been the main focus this year in the Legislature, but it is an important part of the action in Carson City.

Casino executives have been a key voice in this session’s main debate: whether and how to boost education funding, specifically through Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposed expansion of the business license fee, which the Nevada Resort Association supports.

Association President Virginia Valentine said the gaming industry would pay about 58 percent of all business taxes collected by the state if Sandoval’s plan is approved, but association members have a vested interest in improving education and think Sandoval’s vision is the best way to get there.

“These are our employees in the industry, and we have an interest in seeing that education is properly funded,” Valentine said. The Legislature has also considered other bills that could affect the casino industry. Here’s a look at five:

Gaming technology | Senate Bill 9

Senate Bill 9 would direct the Nevada Gaming Commission to encourage gaming equipment manufacturers to design their products with “innovative, alternative and advanced technology.” The bill would allow for more skill in casino games. In other words, slot machines could start playing more like video games.

The bill passed the Senate and the Assembly.

Nightclubs | Senate Bill 38

Senate Bill 38 includes several parts, the most significant of which would require some nightclub employees to register with state gaming regulators, as is already required for many employees who work on the casino side of the business. For example, the bill would make some nightclub workers go through the same process as blackjack dealers. The idea is to prevent problematic nightclub employees who are fired from being hired at other establishments, Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett said.

The bill passed the Senate and the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Sports betting | Senate Bill 443

Senate Bill 443 would let business entities — essentially, groups of investors — place wagers at sports books. Each group would have to create a wagering account with the sports book and provide a substantial amount of documentation, including formation documents for the business and proof that everyone affiliated with the group’s betting is at least 21 years of age. The group also would have to keep records in Nevada of all its bets.

The bill passed the Senate and the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Gaming regulation | Assembly Bill 40

Assembly Bill 40 concerns the Gaming Control Board, one of two regulatory bodies for Nevada’s casino industry. Like other public entities, the Gaming Control Board must conduct meetings that are open to the public. The bill would exempt some of those meetings, particularly those that deal with complaints about gaming violations. Burnett said the bill would simplify a cumbersome process.

The bill also would change the name of the board from State Gaming Control Board to Nevada Gaming Control Board, to align its name with the Nevada Gaming Commission. The three-member control board is a full-time oversight body, while the five-member commission is a part-time group that acts on recommendations from the board.

The bill passed the Assembly and the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Online gaming | Assembly Bill 414

Assembly Bill 414 would ensure that online gaming agreements between Nevada and other states to share players are limited to poker. Nevada and Delaware share online poker players per an agreement between the states’ governors. But in New Jersey, gamblers can play other casino games online, too. Although Nevada hasn’t agreed to pool players with New Jersey, the idea has been tossed around. Other states also could decide to legalize online gaming and include more than just poker.

The bill passed the Assembly. But it failed to meet a deadline to pass out of committee in the Senate, so no further action is allowed.