Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Governor signs bills on in-room gambling, Internet poker

Brian Sandoval

Brian Sandoval

CARSON CITY — Two bills opening up new horizons for Nevada’s casinos have been signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Among the 36 bills approved by Sandoval on Friday were ones to allow electronic gambling in hotel rooms and permitting Internet poker if the federal government also approves it.

Assembly Bill 294 removes a prohibition on the use of mobile gaming devices in hotel rooms or sleeping areas. Supporters told the Legislature that surveys show guests want mobile gambling in their rooms.

They assured lawmakers new technology will prevent underage gambling in rooms. A survey by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority shows that less than 7 percent of guests bring their children to Las Vegas.

Another bill, AB 258, directs the Nevada Gaming Commission to adopt regulations to permit internet gambling if and when the federal government approves it.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is pushing legislation to open the door for interactive gaming.

Eventually, the Nevada Gaming Commission could issue licenses to qualifying casinos to offer online poker games.

Both bills breezed through the Legislature.

There wasn’t a dissenting vote on the bill to authorize mobile gambling in hotel rooms, and there were only two votes against the internet poker bill.

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