Modifying Nevada sports betting regulations is not a quick fix



Nevada’s Gaming Control Board is discovering that making changes to regulations governing the state’s sports betting isn’t as simple as it sounds. An hour-long workshop in Las Vegas Thursday proved that point.

Nevada’s Gaming Control Board is discovering that making changes to regulations governing the state’s sports betting isn’t as simple as it sounds.

An hour-long workshop in Las Vegas Thursday proved that point.

Gaming Control Board Chairwoman Becky Harris said the panel might take consensus suggestions on simple word changes – such as defining the term amateur sports – under consideration at a meeting in December or January.

Other matters, such as mobile sports wagering registration, will have to wait.

The control board undertook the idea of making changes to Regulation 22 – which concerns sports book operations – after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in May that sports betting could be legalized and regulated in any state.

So far, five states have joined Nevada by allowing sports books to open in casinos and racetracks. Other states are on the cusp of launching sports betting.

The largest disagreement in Nevada centers around activating remote sports betting accounts. Currently under Nevada law, a person can set up an account on their mobile device, but they must register officially at a corresponding casino or sports betting facility before the account can be activated.

Vic Salerno, president of USBookmaking, said other states, such as New Jersey, don’t require a person to physically come into a casino and activate their account.

“I can open a New Jersey account on my phone in Nevada, but I can’t use it until I actually set foot into the state of New Jersey,” Salerno said. “Not having remote activation is going to cost us.”

The also isn’t easy access to a sports book for many of the state’s residents. New Jersey sports are in the north at Monmouth Park Racetrack and Meadowlands and in the south at Atlantic City’s casinos.

Salerno operates the sports book for Baldini’s Casino in Sparks, Nevada near Reno and the lack of remote activation keeps him from growing his sports betting business. Barry Lieberman, the attorney for Michael Gaughan’s South Point Casino echoed Salerno’s comments.

However, representatives of Station Casinos, William Hill US, Golden Entertainment, and others, argued against making any changes.

Joe Hasson, executive vice president of Station Casinos, said gaming companies spend millions to create large facilities with different entertainment options. Removing the registration requirements could hurt the industry and hurt the jobs of race and sports book employees.

“The industry was in agreement that a patron or guest needed to present themselves physically at least one time,” Hasson said. “Remote gaming was meant to compliment gaming already taking place in Nevada.”

Control Board Member Shawn Reid said “one size might not fit all” when it comes to remote sports wagering.

“We had hoped to make some recommendations today, but clearly a lot more work needs to be done on a variety of areas,” Harris said.

Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.

This article is a reprint from CDCGamingReports.com.  To view the original story and comment, click here. 


Sign-up for the OSGA Newsletter!

Every week get news and updates, exclusive offers and betting tips delivered right to you email inbox.