Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro is pushing a bill to ease rules on private gaming salons in Nevada, dropping the $500 slot minimum and table game requirement
Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) is looking to loosen restrictions on private gaming salons.
Namely, Cannizzaro is targeting secluded, upscale gambling areas designed for high-stakes players who bring six- or seven-figure bankrolls to the table.
These exclusive salons were originally created to appeal to VIP gamblers and help Nevada casinos stay competitive as legal gambling options continued to expand across the country.
New Rules Under SB459
Under Senate Bill 459 (SB459), introduced on April 23, several long-standing rules for these private salons would change.
One major shift is the elimination of the current $500 minimum bet requirement for slot machines inside the salons.
Instead, casinos would be free to set their own minimums, provided they receive the green light from the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Another proposed change would lift the mandate that these salons include table games, giving casino operators more flexibility in how the spaces are used and configured. The games offered “may include table games, [and may include] slot machines, or any other gambling games, or any combination thereof.”
The hefty entry requirement will remain in place, at least for now. Guests will still need to make a minimum deposit of $300,000 to gain access to these exclusive gambling spaces.
“Rather than have those limits live in statute, this allows greater flexibility,” as explained by a spokesperson for Cannizzaro. In other words, the bill aims to modernize outdated regulations.
“Common-Sense Updates to State Law”
The bill was developed after a workshop held by the Gaming Control Board last December, where regulators discussed how to better utilize these high-end salons, especially when they’re not being used by their elite clientele.
One idea floated was opening them to the general public during off-peak times, which is something the new legislation could make easier.
Supporters of the bill argue it’s a smart, forward-thinking adjustment. Virginia Valentine, president of the Nevada Resort Association, said the changes are “common-sense updates to state law” that would enable licensees to offer “more customized experiences” while also attracting “valuable players that may be choosing to play in other states.”
Last December, the president of the association that represents 75 resorts statewide referred to the $300,000 minimum deposit limit as “a barrier or limit for some of those properties in Northern Nevada”, saying it would be “helpful to make changes there.”
Should SB459 pass, it would change the way the Silver State’s casino industry balances exclusivity with adaptability in its attempt to keep attracting high rollers in an increasingly crowded gambling landscape.At the end of April, the US House of Representatives passed the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, a measure that would change the way people book their stays by knowing the complete cost of their rooms, including extra resort and service fees.
