New owner signals changes at Sharkey’s

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001 | 10:29 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Gaming Control Board Wednesday recommended approval of the sale of Sharkey's Nugget Casino in Gardnerville, called a "landmark property."

For 31 years the business has been operated by Milos S. "Sharkey" Begovich. The club is being purchased for an undisclosed price by Harold D. Holder, who owns casinos in Sparks, Hawthorne and Winnemucca.

Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said Sharkey's has a "rich history." To celebrate Serbian Christmas every January, Begovich threw a free buffet meal of goat meat, prime rib and other dishes for the public.

He often sponsored boxing cards.

Begovich's children have run the casino recently. When a distributor of Budweiser beer failed to contribute to a favorite charity of Begovich's, the casino banned his beer. And a sign was posted outside, "We have no Bud for you."

Holder intends to change things quickly. Budweiser beer will be restored. A lot of the memorabilia will be removed from the club. The arcade will be eliminated, Holder said, because it was a "gathering place for young people who didn't go to school."

Holder said Begovich, because of his poor health, did not take good care of the business, leaving it in "benign neglect."

Some of the slot machines win only $1 a day; those will be replaced. Slots that accept multiple coins will be installed.

A little more than half of the 67 employees will be retained.

Holder owns the Silver Club in Sparks, the Sundance in Winnemucca and the El Capitan in Hawthorne. He has an application with gaming regulators to buy the Model T casino in Winnemucca.

The state Gaming Commission will take final action on his application at its Dec. 20 meeting in Carson City.

Other non-restricted applications recommended for approval by the board included:

Top Gun Gaming LLC, owned by Troy Defrees-Parrott and John Preston Meekins, for license as a manufacturer and distributor of slot machines. The company developed the Betty Boop slot machine theme and it plans to move its headquarters from Arizona to Nevada. Another company owned only by Defrees-Parrott called Inspire Technology was also licensed as a manufacturer and distributor of slot machines.

The Club Cal-Neva in Reno, to open its fourth satellite race book and sports pool in Clark County. It would be in the Bourbon Street Hotel.

Alliance Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas for approval to make a public offering. The approval of the shelf offering is good for one year. Company officials said Alliance has posted its first profit since acquiring Bally Gaming International. Alliance, which develops slot machines, had some financial problems in the past but Neilander said the picture has improved in the past year.

William P. McBeath as president and chief operating officer at the Mirage casino-hotel in Las Vegas.

Terrible's Town Casino in Searchlight for 75 slot machines.