Gaming measure for time shares defeated

Thursday, April 10, 2003 | 11:14 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill to allow time-share developments on the Las Vegas Strip to expand into a full-sized casinos died in the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, said Senate Bill 104 would "open a Pandora's box." He called the bill a "Frankenstein monster."

Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, introduced the bill urging the committee this week to give large time shares a chance to have more slot machines and gaming tables. At present they are restricted to 15 slot machines.

The bill was opposed by the Nevada Resort Association, which represents most of the major casinos in Clark County.

At the committee meeting today, Chairman Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, presented an amendment to allow the time shares to have 100 slot machines. He said this proposal came from Schneider.

Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, said that was a "fairly substantial leap" from 15 slot machines. She said if that was approved, future legislatures would be asked to allow more expansion, including table games.

But Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, said "things are changing in the way Las Vegas works," referring to the previous testimony that Southern Nevada is the top time share market in the world.

"We need to think outside the box," said McGinness in supporting the bill.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said if 100 slot machines were allowed, than there should be an increase in the fees. "Let's make them pay for it," she said, adding the state needs additional money.

But Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, said that in all the tax proposals before the Legislature, there is a 33 percent increase in the fees paid by non-restricted slot operators.

He made a motion to allow 50 slot machines in the time-share units. It was defeated by a 3-4 vote with Nolan, Wiener, Washington and Titus opposing the plan.

Amodei also said he probably would not have the committee vote on Senate Bill 431, which would have permitted televising live casino games from Las Vegas to Great Britain -- where residents would be betting on the outcome.

The committee was told by state gaming regulators earlier this week that there was a question whether this would be legal under federal law.

Amodei also said the committee probably would not vote on Senate Bill 271 to permit a business with an unrestricted gaming license to move into an area outside a gaming enterprise zone in Clark County.

The bill received a cool reception at the hearing earlier this week.

The deadline for committee approval of bills is Friday.