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Nevada Continues Push for Private Gambling

LAS VEGAS, Nevada –- Free-spending high rollers would have to bet $10,000 a hand on table games and $500 a pull on slots to gamble in private Nevada casinos, according to a newly modified state rule that is being considered by Nevada gaming regulators.

The proposal before the state Gaming Control Board previously set the minimum bet at $20,000 a hand and $500 a pull, but some Las Vegas casino executives felt the table minimum was too high for their gamblers.

A major goal of the change: Compete with the private gambling areas of Asian casinos and Connecticut's Foxwoods tribal casino to lure publicity-shy high rollers who seek privacy and dislike Nevada's fully public casinos.

"The legislative intent was to create a new market," said control board member Bobby Siller. "They wanted to attract (gamblers) who demanded privacy. This is intended to go after a new market, new people. People with incredible amounts to gamble."

Casino industry executives and lobbyists met with regulators at a two-hour Tuesday morning workshop to discuss the proposal. A new rule could be adopted by the end of the year after consideration by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Regulators testified that modern video surveillance methods would allow the control board to ensure the integrity of the private games of chance - a key reason for the state's wide-open gambling law.

Bill Bible, president of the Nevada Resort Association, the casino industry's Carson City lobbying arm, said that his membership would prefer that regulators not set a minimum bet amount.

"They thought the state should set a minimum credit line, or a front money requirement, and leave the properties with some discretion on the bet size," said Bible, a former control board chairman. "Some players might want to bet $50,000 for a few hands but then drop down to $500 for a bet or two, depending on how their luck is running."

Siller said the industry appears to be trying to include players who now wager in existing high-limit betting areas as potential players in the new private gambling areas. Bible said when he testified on behalf of the bill he said the change would retain gamblers and attract new ones.

"Defensively it would keep players from being lured to other venues offering private (gambling), and offensively it would attract players who otherwise wouldn't play in Nevada," Bible said. "We have to retain the business as much as we can and attract new business as much as possible."

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