Supper-club slots bill to get new look

Judy Odierna

Thursday, April 17, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

A bill that would have allowed slot machines in restaurants classified as supper clubs died Wednesday after the Las Vegas City Council struck the item from the agenda.

Supper clubs are restaurants, such as Outback Steakhouse, that have small bars but derive most of their income from meals. Taverns make most of their money from liquor sales and are currently allowed to have up to 15 slot machines.

Councilman Michael Mack abstained, but the rest of the council voted unanimously to delete the proposal after hearing concerns from the tavern industry and upon learning that that the bill would not give the council the authority to decide which supper clubs could not have gaming.

Council members indicated they'd like to see the bill reintroduced with new language giving them final approval over which establishments could get the slots.

"I'd like to have the control," said Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald.

The original proposal would have allowed up to 10 slot machines at any supper club with more than 5,000 square feet of usable floor space and five machines at supper clubs with less than 5,000 square feet.

The new bill would have allowed a maximum of five slot machines at a supper club and would have kept the slots in the bar area of the supper club. The bill did not apply to the Downtown Entertainment Overlay District.

Despite the additional limits in the new bill, members of the tavern industry still complained that the additional slot competition would hurt their businesses.

"With the advent of the multi-gaming machine, five machines is a tremendous tool," said Ron Drake, president of the Nevada Tavern Association. "I think there is no reason to muddy the issue. I respectfully request that you do not create a tavern hybrid."

There are currently 230 taverns in the city of Las Vegas and 34 supper clubs. Supper clubs are required to be 400 feet away from a church or school. Taverns must be 1,500 feet from schools, churches and each other.