Existing law establishes various provisions governing the licensing and control of gaming in this State. (Chapter 463 of NRS) Existing regulations require each person who is licensed to conduct restricted or nonrestricted gaming and who engages in the issuance of credit, check cashing or the direct mail marketing of gaming opportunities to implement a program related to allowing patrons to self-limit access to such credit, check cashing or direct mail marketing. (Nev. Gaming Comm'n Regs. § 5.170) Section 2 of this bill codifies in statute the requirement for the Commission to adopt regulations to implement such a program and expands the program to include communications through direct marketing by mail, telephone, text message or electronic mail.
Existing law provides for the issuance of restricted and nonrestricted licenses to conduct gaming and defines a “nonrestricted license” as, among other things, a state gaming license for, or an operation consisting of, 16 or more slot machines. (NRS 463.0177) Section 3 of this bill: (1) requires the Commission to adopt regulations and establish the necessary fees for a license to operate a tavern gaming establishment; (2) sets forth the requirements for a tavern gaming establishment; and (3) authorizes a tavern gaming establishment to, among other things, operate 25 or fewer gaming devices. Section 8 of this bill makes a conforming change to exclude a license for the operation of a tavern gaming establishment from the definition of “nonrestricted license” for purposes of the provisions governing the licensing and control of gaming.
Existing law requires the Nevada Gaming Control Board to make an investigation and initiate a hearing by filing a complaint with the Commission if the Board is satisfied that a person or entity which is licensed, registered, found suitable or found preliminarily suitable or was previously approved for an activity for which Commission approval was required or permitted should have its license, registration, finding of suitability or preliminary finding of suitability limited, conditioned, suspended, revoked or fined. (NRS 463.310) Section 4 of this bill: (1) retains the jurisdiction of the Board and the Commission after a person or entity 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; and (2) 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. Existing law also 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 10 of this bill provides instead that such a voluntary surrender does not become effective until accepted in the manner provided by the Board.
Existing law defines “interactive gaming” and authorizes certain gaming establishments to obtain a license to operate interactive gaming. (NRS 463.016425, 463.750) Section 5 of this bill requires the Commission, with the advice and assistance of the Board, to adopt regulations governing interactive gaming that allow for a sports pool, including the acceptance of wagers on sporting events and other events from patrons located within and outside of this State. Section 7 of this bill revises the definition of “interactive gaming” to include a sports pool, which by definition means the business of accepting wagers on sporting events or other events by any system or method of wagering. (NRS 463.0193) Section 14 of this bill makes a conforming change to exclude interactive gaming from the criminal penalties for accepting, receiving or allowing another to accept or receive a wager from a person physically present in this State. (NRS 465.092, 465.093)
Existing law requires certain persons to apply for and obtain a finding of suitability, license or registration from the Nevada Gaming Commission under certain circumstances. (NRS 463.530, 463.585, 463.595, 463.643) Existing regulations define “institutional investor” for certain purposes related to gaming. (Nev. Gaming Comm'n Regs. § 16.010) Section 6 of this bill codifies the definition of institutional investor for certain purposes and prohibits such an investor from becoming eligible to receive or hold a waiver granted by the Commission under certain circumstances.
Existing law provides that after a final order of the Board recommending denial of an application for a license, registration, finding of suitability or approval, the Commission may: (1) deny the application; (2) reject the application; (3) remand the matter to the Board for further investigation and reconsideration; or (4) by unanimous vote of the members present, grant the application. (NRS 463.220) Section 9 of this bill authorizes the Commission, after receiving a final order of the Board recommending approval of such an application, to deny the application by unanimous vote of the members present.
Under existing law, a state of emergency or a declaration of disaster may be proclaimed by the Governor or by resolution of the Legislature if the Governor or Legislature, as applicable, finds that: (1) an attack upon the United States has occurred or is anticipated in the immediate future, or any natural, technological or man-made emergency or disaster of major proportions has actually occurred within this State; and (2) the protection of the safety and welfare of the inhabitants of this State requires an invocation of certain additional governmental powers. (NRS 414.070) Sections 11-13 of this bill authorize the Commission, in response to a state of emergency or declaration of disaster proclaimed by the Governor or by resolution of the Legislature, to reduce, defer or forgive certain fees charged to a licensee.
Statutes affected: As Introduced: 463.016425, 463.0177, 463.220, 463.270, 463.370, 463.373, 463.375, 465.094
BDR: 463.016425, 463.0177, 463.220, 463.270, 463.370, 463.373, 463.375, 465.094