Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Bill sought for salon disclosure
By SEAN WHALEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU
CARSON CITY -- A Senate committee agreed Monday to seek a bill requiring some public disclosure about activity in the private gaming salons operated by Nevada casinos for top-end patrons.
Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, sought the bill introduction through the Senate Judiciary Committee, saying the salons, which are operated out of view of the general public, should disclose some basic information about gaming winnings and number of visitors.
"Not identifying any properties, not identifying any names or countries of origin," he said. "That could be considered a trade secret. At least let us see some idea of what goes on."
Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said the agency did make a commitment to Care and other lawmakers in the 2001 session to make some information available to the public about the operation of the salons.
The Legislature authorized the creation of salons for high rollers in 2001 in an effort to bring in more gambling revenue to the state.
Neilander said that since the regulations took effect, three resorts have been licensed to operate salons, all in Las Vegas: the MGM Grand, Caesars Palace and Mandalay Bay.
Of the three, Neilander said he was aware of only one, operated by Mandalay Bay, that has opened, and that was for a brief time over the Chinese New Year's holiday.
Neilander said the agency has no problem with releasing information about the salon operations, as long as individuals or gaming companies are not identified.
Care said he would also like to use the bill draft to require the release of monthly gaming win numbers on a specific date. The proposal is in response to an effort to delay release of the October 2001 report by Gov. Kenny Guinn in December 2001 following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Guinn authorized the numbers' release one day after his top aides said the results would be withheld for several days to give state officials time to gauge the health of Nevada's economy.
