MGM Mirage quits tourism group

Casino giant MGM Mirage on Tuesday resigned from the Nevada Resort Association, saying budgetary cutbacks were the reason for dropping out of the gaming lobby group.

MGM Mirage operates 10 resorts on the Strip and is building the $9.2 billion CityCenter. MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment are considered the two largest members of the resort association. The company did not say how much it was saving by dropping out.

"The company made a decision to resign from the NRA for budgetary reasons," MGM Mirage spokesman Gordon Absher said. "It would be inappropriate for others to read too much into this."

Absher said the decision had nothing to do with the company's stance on an advisory question on the Nov. 4 ballot on whether hotel room taxes should be increased.

Harrah's, Wynn Resorts Ltd. and Station Casinos are supporting the question, along with the state teacher's union. The measure calls for sending funds from the proposed increase to the state general budget. The money would be earmarked for education spending in the first two years and to pay for higher teacher salaries in the following years.

MGM Mirage Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Lanni opposes the ballot question.

Following the 2003 legislative session, MGM Mirage resigned its membership in the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and other business development groups. Lanni was disappointed that chamber leaders didn't support a statewide tax on gross business receipts.

Resort association President Bill Bible said he was advised last week that MGM Mirage would quit the association for budgetary reasons.

Added Absher: "We appreciate the efforts of Bill Bible and his team. The simple fact is that MGM Mirage has a government affairs team that does work in those same areas."