NLV casino to continue operating without a hotel

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000 | 11:28 a.m.

The North Las Vegas City Council went back and forth for an hour before agreeing Wednesday to allow the owners of the Fort Las Vegas Casino to operate without building a hotel until its gaming permit expires on Jan. 1.

The council said that when the restricted-gaming license expires, the panel will consider granting casino owners Boyd and Patricia Bulloch a nonrestricted gaming license that would only allow 15 slot machines, compared to the 50 it now operates. The nonrestricted license does not require a hotel to be built.

The casino owners have been wrangling with the council for months over requirements they agreed to when they were granted a nonrestricted gaming license in 1992.

The city passed a 100-room requirement in 1984, and Fort Las Vegas applied for and received a gaming permit in 1992, with the condition that it build the hotel.

The deadline for completion of the 100-room hotel and pool was on March 4.

Attorney David Crosby, representing the casino owners, told the council "you don't have to shut us down tonight."

Crosby argues the casino was grandfathered in when the city changed its hotel requirement to 200 rooms in 1998, and said the owners will not build a hotel.

Councilman William Robinson asked for a resolution to resolve the debate over the hotel requirement. He said the owners are long-time residents who should be shown some compassion over their problem.

"Bob Bulloch was in North Las Vegas before there really was a North Las Vegas," Robinson said. "I think there are times we also need to look into the humanistic side of the story -- the livelihood of this man that has helped make this city what it is today."

Council member Stephanie Smith disagreed, citing broken promises by Bulloch, who promised to build a hotel.

"This isn't about showing compassion," she said. "That's not our job here. Our job is to protect the laws of the community."