Adam Roarty is a journalist covering sports betting, regulation, and industry innovation for CasinoBeats. His coverage includes tax increases in the UK, covering breaking stories in the ever-evolving landscape of US betting such as the...
Read Full BioThe Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously approved regulatory changes to make casino gaming salons more accessible.
The changes aim to boost tourism in the state, which has experienced a decline recently. They also aim to attract celebrities and high-profile guests who value privacy.
The Commission voted 5-0 in favor of the changes that were included in Senate Bill 459, which both houses passed earlier this year.
The new rules include:
- Eliminating the $500 minimum slot wager; casinos can now set their own thresholds with Gaming Control Board approval.
- Reducing the entry requirement from a $300,000 deposit/credit line to $20,000.
- Salons may now include poker.
- Guests of patrons can remain in the salon for up to 24 hours after the patron leaves (previously six hours).
Nevada Resort Association CEO Virginia Valentine supports the changes, in particular, lowering the entry requirement. She stated, “By lowering the financial criteria and offering privacy, security, and an elevated gaming experience, we feel we will attract casino patrons who are not playing here now.
“No other state or tribal entity regulates minimum front-end requirements. They can ensure guests return by creating curated experiences, and the operators are best to determine that minimum deposit that makes sense for their business model.”
Commissioner Warns of Risks to Venues
Despite the approval, Commissioner George Markantonis expressed reservations. He disagreed with the idea of pandering to celebrities, stating, “It’s a high-end gaming salon and not a VIP concierge lounge.
“It’s not meant to be, in my opinion, so a celebrity can be taken off the floor so they don’t have a little crowd around them. There are other ways casinos deal with those every single day.”
Markantonis also warned that it posed a risk of exacerbating problems with high-roller customers using the venues for money laundering.
He added, “With all of the anti-money-laundering problems we’ve encountered in the last six months – Resorts World, MGM, and Wynn – the casinos have some difficulty controlling their customers and hosts on top of that. The hosts are pressured by the customers and their own bonus criteria. Therefore, if we were to open it up, it’s almost a free-fall.”
Wynn, Resorts World, and MGM have all received hefty fines over anti-money laundering failures this year. The casinos allowed illegal bookmakers to gamble at the premises, often with assistance from VIP programs.
Vegas Attempts to Boost Lagging Tourist Numbers
Proponents hope the new rules lead to a boost in tourism for Las Vegas. Amid falling tourist visitor numbers, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) launched the city’s first-ever city-wide sale this week.
The Fabulous 5-Day Sale ends on Friday, offering discounts on resorts, restaurants, and entertainment. The sale comes as the city faces a decline in visitor traffic.
In July, approximately 3.1 million tourists visited Las Vegas, representing a 12% year-on-year drop. Hotel occupancy declined to 76.1%, a decrease of roughly 7.6% from July 2024.
