Regulators grill executive

Thursday, May 2, 2002 | 11:18 a.m.

The state Gaming Control Board has recommended a North Las Vegas casino executive to be licensed, but not before grilling him for leaving the scene of a December 2000 traffic accident and not contacting police for nearly a month.

Regulators recommended a two-year licensing approval to Kevin Mahoney, general manager of the Opera House Casino, operated by Mahoney's Silver Nugget Inc.

The two-year limited license, which goes to the Nevada Gaming Commission for final approval, assures that Mahoney would return to the board for a renewal in 2004.

Board members questioned Mahoney's role in a two-car collision on U.S. 95 west of Valley View Boulevard on Dec. 9, 2000. Mahoney acknowledged that he used bad judgment when he left the accident scene and didn't contact police until 25 days after the accident.

The board, which assesses the suitability of applicants when it licenses key casino employees, criticized Mahoney for not checking on the welfare of the occupant of the other vehicle in the collision and for not using his cellular telephone to call police from the scene. Mahoney replied that he was "scared, nervous and wasn't thinking" at the accident scene and that he thought his attorney had been in contact with police.