Gaming Board splits on three gaming issues

John Wilen

Friday, Jan. 15, 1999 | 3:40 a.m.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board passed judgment on a variety of gaming applications Thursday during a session punctuated by an unusual number of split votes.

Three items were decided by 2-1 votes, and two of those found new Board Member Bobby Siller casting the dissenting vote.

In the first instance, the board approved a key employee application for Vincent H. Salmu, manager of the Inn Zone Desert Inn, 2542 E. Desert Inn Road, despite a 1990 arrest for domestic violence and child abuse.

Salmu said he was involved in an argument with his live-in girlfriend at the time. When he stormed out of their shared San Diego condominium, he said he accidentally hit the woman with a door. Her 7-year-old daughter, said Salmu, just "got in the way."

But Siller, formerly the FBI's Las Vegas supervisor, grilled Salmu about a police report that said he had held his hand over the daughter's mouth to try to stop her from screaming.

"Can you imagine how traumatic that was?" asked Siller.

Salmu said he did not hold his hand over the girl's mouth. That incensed Siller.

"So, am I to understand that the police report ... all the stuff is not correct, but what you're telling me is correct now?" he asked.

Salmu said he was never convicted of a crime related to the incident.

Board Member Dennis Neilander and Chairman Steve DuCharme voted to give Salmu a limited one-year license, but Siller dissented.

Later, Siller again cast the dissenting vote against a board decision to return a gaming work permit to James Menezes, of Las Vegas. Menezes lost his permit after being arrested for marijuana possession in 1997.

DuCharme argued for returning Menezes' card, noting that he had undergone drug treatment and had passed drug tests. But Siller was bothered by drug paraphernalia found at the time of Menezes' arrest that indicated the use of harder drugs.

Menezes may get his permit back, but Marty Moncivais, also of Las Vegas, was not so lucky. Moncivais was arrested in 1998 on a 1994 warrant for embezzling money from a Wal-Mart.

DuCharme argued that she should be given a second chance, but found himself the dissenter this time as Neilander and Siller voted against returning Moncivais' permit.

The Gaming Control Board actions are preliminary. The final decisions in all matters will be made by the state Gaming Commission at its Jan. 28 meeting.

In other actions this week, the board:

--Decided to call forward Kam Fai Chow, also known as David Chow, for a finding of suitability to participate in revenues from a gaming operation. Chow is an independent agent who arranges Las Vegas vacations, primarily for high-rollers. Board members want to examine allegations that Chow has had associations with Asian organized crime figures. Chow did not appear at the meeting, though he had been told his presence was required. Chow could not be located for comment.

--Approved a key employee application submitted by Felipe V. Coronel, general manager of Vegas Moose Inc., doing business as Moose McGillycuddy's Pub & Cafe, 4770 S. Maryland Parkway.

--Approved a 67 percent transfer of interest in Bartnel Corp., doing business as the Barking Frog, 5150 Spring Mountain, from Allen G. Nel to John H. Card.

--Approved a 40 percent transfer of interest in Pacific Gaming Decatur Inc., doing business as Decatur Express, 2650 S. Decatur, from Barry S. Markman to Steven J. Burnstine.

--Upheld hearing examiner decisions to strip the following people of their work permits: Sylvia McClure, Kelly Cato, Wesley Kincaid, Gary Tam, Michael Merrick, Joseph Rampolla, Quarsie Jacobs, Anna Giorgione, and John Vukasin, all of Las Vegas.

--Overturned a hearing examiner's decision to strip Heriberto Portillo, of Las Vegas, of his work permit. If approved by the Gaming Commission, Portillo will have a two-year limited work permit.

--Overturned a hearing examiner's decision to return a work permit to Remedios Alfonso, of Las Vegas. The decision, based on charges that Alfonso passed bad checks at a Reno casino in 1997, means Alfonso will not likely get his work permit back.

The board also approved restricted gaming licenses for:

--Nevada Business Consortium LLC, doing business as Winchester Tap, 2327 S. Eastern, owned by David Penczek, Floyd Schoonover and James Euge.

--Red Rock Properties Inc., doing business as Interstate Grille and Bar, 3826 E. Craig, North Las Vegas, owned by Javier G. Barajas.

--Bouquet Inc., doing business as Mobil Mini Mart, 1625 N. Lamb, owned by Maria F. Enamorado.

--Donald A. Butz Inc., doing business as Butz & Heiney's, 5822 Boulder Highway, owned by Donald A. Butz.

--MPV Restaurant Group Inc., doing business as China Garden Seafood Restaurant, 5485 W. Sahara, owned by Zongyue Ma, Li Xin Chen and Judi Suk Lan Fong.

--A 7-Eleven store at 6702 W. Cheyenne, franchised by Mark and Marilee Wright.

--Green Valley Gaming Inc., doing business at Cordobes Mexican Restaurant, 235 N. Eastern Ave., #132, and at Ibpo Elks Lodge Tommy J. Stanton 1735, located at 1401 N. Decatur Blvd., #24.

--ETT Inc., doing business at Office Bar #3, 3240 S. Arville, and at Dectrop Shell, 4895 W. Tropicana.

--United Coin Machine Co., doing business at Village Shop #6, 1080 Whitney Ranch Road, Henderson.

--Crawford Coin Inc., doing business at Green Valley Grocery #18, 1220 E. Pebble Road.

The Board also approved the following new games:

--Pair Magic, a poker variation developed by Henry T. Lo, of Las Vegas, and on trial at the Lady Luck Casino.

--Bonus 6 Stud Poker, a five-card stud game developed by Thomas F. Perkins of Douglasville, Ga., and on trial at the Reserve hotel-casino.

Meantime, the Nevada Gaming Commission approved restricted gaming licenses last month for:

--Bent Barrel Inc., doing business as Bilbo's Bar & Grill, 8699 W. Charleston, owned by Robert N., Nancy A., William P. and Kimberly A. Peccole, as well as Robert N. Peccole Jr., and Rebecca L. Peccole-Shuirman.

--Fortune Cookie Cafe & Lounge, 4180 W. Desert Inn Road #B-4, owned by Yong Sook Kim, and managed by Jin Woong Kim.

--Green Valley Gaming Inc., doing business at Chung King East Chinese Restaurant, 2710 E. Desert Inn Road, at Chung King Chinese Restaurant, 3400 S. Jones Blvd., #24, at El Jalisco Restaurant, 3400 S. Jones # 15, at Philippine Garden Restaurant & Karaoke, 4300 W. Spring Mountain, at Valley View Deli, 5190 S. Valley View, and at Nellis Thrifty Mart, 3735 N. Nellis Blvd.

--Fun Bars Inc., doing business as Hang N' Loose, 208 E. Sahara, owned by Mark J. Stacy. Michael Cericola was approved as manager.

--Smoke Ranch Enterprises Inc., doing business as an Arco Am/Pm store, 2400 N. Jones Blvd., owned by Rapinder Chima.

--A&T Ventures Inc., doing business as Timber Jacks, 4740 S. Arville, owned by Andrew Donner.

--J&F Enterprises Inc., doing business as Timber Jacks II, 6020 W. Flamingo, also owned by Andrew Donner.

--Frekapel LLC, doing business as Rainbow Craig Mini Mart, 4401 N. Rainbow, owned by the Shapiro Family Trust, Raymond Shapiro trustee, and William Scotten.

--Durango Park, 8635 Spring Mountain, owned by Thomas Jones.

--United Coin Machine Co., doing business at a 7-Eleven store, 3130 Las Vegas Blvd. North, franchised by Kristian and Debra Hicks, at Family Food Mart, 1102 Fremont St., and at Sawbucks II, 3550 S. Decatur.

--Jild Corp., doing business as Las Vegas Gaming Co., doing business as Loyal Order of Moose, 1716 East Highway 168, Moapa.

--Rebel Slots Inc., doing business at a Rebel store, 6400 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

--Cardivan Co., doing business at a Sav-On drug store, 6705 E. Lake Mead, and at Rite Aid drug stores at the following locations: 4975 E. Tropicana, 9350 W. Sahara, 2513 S. Nellis, 4555 N. Nellis, and 5991 W. Cheyenne.

--Southwest Gaming Services Inc., doing business at Club Hotel by Doubletree, 7250 Pollock Drive.

--ETT Inc., doing business at Terrible's, 1220 E. Lake Mead, North Las Vegas.

In other action last month, the Commission:

--Approved an application by American Wagering Inc. subsidiary Leroy's Horse and Sports Place to do business at the Magic Star Casino, which opened last week at 2000 Boulder Hwy., in Henderson.

--Approved new games "Game Magic," developed by Bally Gaming and Systems, on trial at the Flamingo Hilton, and "Sphinx," developed by Atrionic Casino Technology Ltd., on trial at the Bally's and Sunset Station hotel-casinos.

--Approved field trials for new games "Russo-Nero," developed by Frank Yockmen, for trial at the Reserve hotel-casino; "Greed," developed by Mark Richards, doing business as the Game Show Co., on trial at the Silverton hotel-casino; and "Maxtime 21," developed by Howard Grossman and Tech Art Management Inc., also on trial at the Reserve hotel-casino.