Existing law requires the Nevada Gaming Control Board to make investigations and initiate a hearing by filing a complaint with the Nevada Gaming Commission if the Board is satisfied that a person or entity which is licensed, registered, found suitable or found preliminarily suitable or which previously obtained approval for an activity for which Commission approval was required or permitted should be limited, conditioned, suspended, revoked or fined. (NRS 463.310) Section 1 of this bill retains the jurisdiction of the Board and the Commission after a person who is licensed, registered, found suitable or preliminarily found suitable is no longer engaged in the activity or position for which Commission approval was required. Section 1 also provides that the surrender or attempted surrender of a license, registration, finding of suitability or preliminary finding of suitability is not effective until accepted by the Board in the manner prescribed by the Chair of the Board. Existing law defines the term “hearing examiner” to include any person authorized by the Board or the Commission to conduct investigative hearings. (NRS 463.0163) Section 2 of this bill revises the definition of the term “hearing examiner” to specify that such an examiner includes a person authorized by the Chair of the Board or Commission. Sections 3 and 8 of this bill make similar changes to provide that a hearing examiner is a person authorized by the Chair of the Board. Existing law authorizes investigative hearings to be conducted by one or more members of the Board with the concurrence of a majority of the Board. (NRS 463.110) Section 3 removes the necessity for the concurrence of a majority of the Board. Existing law authorizes the Board and Commission to require a finding of suitability or the licensing of certain persons who own or perform certain acts related to gaming. (NRS 463.162) Section 4 of this bill adds persons who conduct a tournament or contest on behalf of or in conjunction with a gaming licensee to the list of persons for which the Board and Commission may require a finding of suitability or licensing. Existing law provides that a voluntary surrender of a license by a licensee does not become effective until accepted in the manner prescribed by regulations adopted by the Commission. (NRS 463.270) Section 5 of this bill instead provides that such a voluntary surrender does not become effective until accepted by the Board in the manner prescribed by the Chair of the Board. Existing law establishes fines of not less than $25,000 and not more than $250,000 for each separate violation by certain nonrestricted licensees to report and maintain records of all transactions involving cash. Additionally, existing law establishes fines of not more than $100,000 for certain violations which are the subject of an initial complaint and not more than $250,000 for each separate violation which is the subject of any subsequent complaint. (NRS 463.125, 463.310) Section 6 of this bill removes the separate fines for failure to maintain records involving cash, and increases all fines to not more than $500,000 for each separate violation which is the subject of an initial complaint and $1,000,000 for each separate violation which is the subject of a subsequent complaint. Existing law establishes a process for the judicial review of decisions by the Commission, including the requirement that the Commission must prepare and file the record on review. (NRS 463.316) Section 7 of this bill: (1) requires the Commission to transmit, instead of file, the record on review to the reviewing court; and (2) provides that failure of the petitioner to pay the costs and fees prescribed by the Commission is grounds for dismissal of the petition filed with the court. Existing law allows a claim by a patron of a licensee for payment of a gaming debt which is not evidenced by a credit instrument and which is for less than $500 to be resolved by a hearing examiner designated by the Board. (NRS 463.361) Section 8 of this bill: (1) raises the threshold for the resolution of such a claim to $1,000; and (2) provides for the designation of a hearing officer by the Chair of the Board instead of the Board. Existing law requires the registration or licensing of a person conducting certain tournaments or contests in association with a gaming licensee. (NRS 463.169) Section 9 of this bill repeals that requirement, and section 4 instead authorizes the Board and Commission to require a person conducting such tournaments to acquire a finding of suitability or license.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 463.0163, 463.110, 463.162, 463.270, 463.310, 463.316, 463.361, 463.169
BDR: 463.0163, 463.110, 463.162, 463.270, 463.310, 463.316, 463.361, 463.169