Water’s the big XGR agenda item for Nevada casinos

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Richard Bunker of the Nevada Resort Association says the casino industry doesn't have a lot of other pressing initiatives - and in any case nothing could be more important to the clubs' future than adequate water.

"If we don't have water, we have nothing," Bunker said in an interview, adding that the NRA will closely track a bill that will be pushed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority to ensure proper supply lines and other elements of the water system that serves the Las Vegas area.

"We have to build redundancy and reliability into our (water) system," he added.

Bunker also said the NRA will keep a close eye on any legislation dealing with the State Industrial Insurance System - although Gov. Bob Miller has said the system is recovering so well from a fiscal tailspin a few years ago that no major SIIS legislation should be needed this session.

Miller also has said he doesn't plan on any new taxes, including tax boosts for the multi-billion-dollar casino industry.

However, infrastructure problems in southern Nevada are expected to be a major, costly issue during the session, and changes in casino tax categories - not technically tax increases - could come up as a way to generate money at the state level to help solve those problems.

Another potential problem for the resorts is the fact that their win statewide from gamblers has been lower than expected for several months. But Bunker said he's anticipating an upswing because major casino construction is continuing and tourists will be drawn to the state as "Las Vegas continues to reinvent itself."

Legislative money committees also will be monitored by the NRA team, as well as Judiciary committees which will handle any regulatory revisions that might be sought by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and state Gaming Commission.

Bunker also said the industry is expected to support "redlining" legislation aimed at restricting casino expansion in booming Las Vegas to specific areas.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said he's introducing such legislation, but not for the casino industry. He said it's more a measure to help people keep casinos out of what should be family neighborhoods.

James also said he wasn't aware of any big law changes being sought by casino regulators - and didn't see how lawmakers would get involved in a controversy over alleged spying and dirty tricks by the Frontier casino in Las Vegas during a five-year labor strike.

Big casinos on Tahoe's south shore are spending heavily on an effort that would result in a new Tahoe County formed from the lake regions of Carson City, Douglas and Washoe counties.

But Bunker said that's not an NRA proposal, although Harvey Whittemore, whose many lobbying clients include the NRA, is pushing the plan for the new-county advocates.