The Nevada Gaming Control Board met last week with casino executives to discuss proposed changes to the regulations governing private gaming salons. Industry representatives are looking for flexibility in how the rooms are used when high rollers are not in the area and the NGCB seems pretty open to their requests.
Private gaming salons first came into Nevada’s regulatory framework in 2001 and are, essentially, high roller suites. Players in private salons must deposit $300,000; have a $300,000 line of credit; or some combination of the two.
Inside of private gaming salons, slot machines have a $500 minimum and no poker tables. Guests of high rollers are allowed to stay for six hours once the high roller is gone.
Casino executives are looking to the board to make several changes including the ability to change private salons to public spaces when not in use; lowering the credit requirements for guests; adding poker tables; and the ability to set their own slot limits.
During the meeting, executives told the NGCB that the current regulations are outdated and keep them serving their guests in the best manner possible. MGM Resorts vice president and legal counsel Chandler Poh stated the industry’s case in comments reported on by iGaming.com saying, l“This is going back to, how do we best cater to these customers, and how do we give them the privacy and security that we as a licensee would like to provide them and what we think is necessary to not cause public scenes on our gaming floors?”
The workshop itself was an opportunity to discuss general issues relating to private gaming salons and the NGCB isn’t expected to act on this issue anytime soon.