On May 13, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) will hold an in-person and virtual work session, with public comment, on proposed amendments to its gaming regulations that would allow operators to offer a wide range of online casino products instead of just poker.
Significant changes
Nevada currently bans nearly all forms of gambling via the internet and is one of only five states that does not have a lottery, nor participate in interstate lottery games. The exceptions being sports betting, including esports, and online poker, which has operated in Nevada since 2013.
However, that could soon change as the NGCB has proposed a series of amendments to Regulation 5A, which is the state’s laws dealing with interactive gaming. The regulator wants to expand the state’s gambling offerings to include online casino gaming, such as slot machines, blackjack, roulette.
Overall, the NGCB is proposing amending its current rules as follows:
– Removing provisions limiting interactive gaming to the game of poker
– Defining “peer-to-peer” and “non-peer-to-peer” games more broadly
– Creating a state-wide list of individuals who have self-excluded from participating in iGaming
– Making multiple amendments on what is required to be displayed on an operator’s website, player registration, collection of personal information and record-keeping and more.
It’s about time
After decades of discussion, the NGCB has finally invited the state’s public to provide input on proposed amendments on May 13, and it’s about time.
Several factors had Nevada considering adding online gaming. The fact that the state’s gaming revenue fell to a 24-year low in 2020 and that number of states in the country have introduced online gaming with success. Most notably, New Jersey saw about $1 billion in online gaming revenue in 2020.
