Bill allowing high-end areas rolling through the Senate

Friday, March 30, 2001 | 11:16 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill to attract mega high-rollers who can afford to lose big sums like $20 million at Las Vegas casinos appears to have clear sailing in the Senate.

Major Las Vegas casinos were joined by the Nevada Gaming Control Board Thursday in endorsing Senate Bill 283 to permit the resorts to set aside private gambling areas for these high-end players, who would rather their personal habits not be known.

Bill Timmins, president and chief operating officer of the Aladdin hotel-casino in Las Vegas, said there are probably only a few hundred of these individuals in the world. "They don't want to be identified. They do not wish to have the style of their lives reported," Timmins said.

Daniel Wade, vice chairman of the board of MGM MIRAGE, suggested the minimum bet might be $15,000 to $20,000 on the 21 game and $100,000 to $150,000 on baccarat. The slot machines would have a wager minimum of at least $500.

The size of the bets would be determined by regulations adopted by gaming authorities. Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said it might be next year before the regulations are completed and these private "gaming salons" can open.

Committee Chairman Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, questioned whether the state could properly regulate these games, which would be behind closed doors.

Neilander said the gaming board can "make sure the state gets its fair share of the taxes and the games are honest." He said there would be highly sophisticated surveillance equipment in these rooms and that agents would probably be present at times to watch the operation.

Bob Faiss, a Las Vegas attorney representing MGM Mirage, said this bill is for the state's benefit, not the players.' These individuals could go elsewhere, he said.

These private "salons" are allowed in Monte Carlo, Australia, London and other foreign cities. But Nevada apparently would be the first in the United States to permit these exclusive enclaves.

Harvey Whittemore, attorney for the Nevada Resort Association, predicted there would be five to 10 of these private clubs and competition for these big players would be "very fierce."

No one spoke in opposition to the bill and the committee could take action on it next week.