Senator won't hold hearing on Boyd casino bill

Senate Judiciary Chairman Mark James, R-Las Vegas, says he won't hold a hearing on AB522. The bill unanimously passed the Assembly, but has raised the ire of other local casino companies, notably Station Casinos Inc.

Two years ago, the Legislature approved a bill authored by James to limit casinos in residential neighborhoods. Under that measure, companies have to meet strict new requirements to gain approval for casino projects in residential areas.

Boyd owns property near Texas Station in North Las Vegas and across the street from Boulder Station on Boulder Highway. Helen Foley, a lobbyist for Boyd, said there was an oversight in 1997 and Boyd thought its property had been grandfathered into the law.

But Boyd later discovered it was subject to the strict new requirements.

Foley said both properties are in well-established casino areas. The bill to permit Boyd to build is narrowly defined so it includes only those two properties, which were owned before the 1997 law.

But James said, "To come back the next session and start making exceptions like that ... it will open the floodgates and there will be innumerable exceptions and the effect of the law will fall."

To start granting the exceptions, he said would "make swiss cheese" of the law.

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