Casino vet’s license bid questioned, withdrawn

Brendan Riley

Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999 | 10:37 a.m.

CARSON CITY - Willard "Bucky" Howard Jr., with more than 40 years in the casino industry, had to withdraw a gambling license bid today because of questionable associations.

The Nevada Gaming Commission authorized the withdrawal of Howard's application to be licensed as chief operating officer and general manager of the River Palms in Laughlin.

The club, on the Colorado River in southern Nevada, is part of Gold River Operating Corp.

Howard, with gambling experience in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi and elsewhere, isn't likely to renew his request which was sent back to the NGC's staff. Three of the five commissioners said they didn't think he was suitable for a license.

At a meeting earlier this month of the commission's investigative arm, the state Gaming Control Board, Howard was hit with a denial recommendation because of concerns about business ties.

That included associations with a man who once gave a mob boss a free ticket to a New Jersey casino prize fight and allegedly laundered cocaine money.

Board members also said Howard was involved in a Mississippi-based company that illegally shipped slot machines to Michigan.

Howard's lawyer said Howard had long years of casino experience and had helped to turn around two struggling casinos since returning to Nevada a few years ago.

But Dennis Gallagher said Howard ran into problems in other states when he took on higher-level management roles. In such spots, he said Howard relied on subordinates who betrayed his trust.

In other action, the commission:

The commission went along with a Control Board recommendation for a two-year limited license for Sierra Design. GCB members were concerned that the company made a big shipment of devices to Washington without clear-cut authority to do so. But Sierra Design officials said they went out of their way to keep regulators in the loop regarding their activities.

The Tampa, Fla.-based Holder Group is headed by Harold Holder Sr., a former senior manager in Sears, Roebuck and Co. Holder also was licensed last month for the Sundance Casino in Winnemucca.