Wednesday, April 1, 1998 | 10:08 a.m.
Las Vegas developer and former casino owner Ed Nigro has won approval for liquor and gaming licenses needed to operate the Maxim hotel-casino.
Nigro was appointed receiver last December by the Nevada Gaming Commission, permitting the resort to continue operating while a decision is made whether it can keep afloat.
The Gaming Commission took the hotel-casino from John Anderson, a California tomato grower based in Sacramento.
County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates disclosed that she and Nigro were former partners in a daiquiri business venture but that they no longer are involved financially with each other.
"We were business partners once but are not now and I have no financial interest in this," Gates said before voting to approve the liquor and gaming licenses.
Gates gave up her interest in the daiquiri business after allegations were raised she violated ethics laws by talking to other casino owners and executives about the venture. She was reprimanded by the state Ethics Commission in January.
Nigro was approved for two main bar, three service bar, one package liquor, one retail beer and wine and three portable bar liquor licenses. He also received Class C slot machine and unrestricted live game licenses in conjunction with a resort hotel.
To keep the Maxim open and with Nigro in charge, the Gaming Commission had to clear away some legal problems. The FDIC wanted to surrender the gaming licenses, which could have closed the club.
The FDIC did not want Nigro named as a receiver of the Maxim. Instead it preferred that the commission allow a court to appoint a supervisor and permit the FDIC to surrender its license.
But the Gaming Commission sided with West Coast Mortgage, which wanted Nigro and has agreed to pay him $35,000 a month.
Nigro was general manager at the gaming properties formerly owned by the Del Webb Corp., and had been a part owner of the Silver Nugget in North Las Vegas. He and entertainer Johnny Carson tried unsuccessfully at one time to buy the soon-to-be-imploded Aladdin hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
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