Attempt to drum up traffic
The Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) has approved a series of regulatory amendments in an attempt to boost activity at private gaming salons, the exclusive high-stakes gambling rooms at casinos for whales and celebrities.
On Thursday, after an hour debate, the Commission voted to implement the changes, previously recommended by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) in August.
The most significant is a massive drop in the money a gambler must bring to the gaming salon, opening the rooms up to a much larger player base. When gaming salons were first created two and a half decades ago, they were truly for the rich and famous, requiring players to post at least $500,000. In 2008, that minimum was decreased to $300,000.
Now, the amended regulation sets the dollar figure at just $20,000. That’s still way too much for most people, but within range for many, even someone who had a hot day at the blackjack table (admittedly, that would be a really hot day).
Minimum bets on slot machines in gaming salons are now up to the casino operator. The previous minimum was $500. Additionally, poker games can now be spread in gaming salons, provided the minimum buy-in is $10,000.
More detailed player records
The added flexibility does bring with it a bit of an added requirement for salon management: instead of keeping a log of only salon patrons, the casinos must log both patrons and their guests. The idea is two-fold: a) money laundering prevention, and b) tracking potentially unruly visitors, especially when guests have an entourage.
“The (financial) thresholds were put in as protection for the operators, too,” said Commissioner George Markantonis, who opened The Venetian’s salon before joining the NGC. “It allowed us, the operators, to defer to, say, the law or the regulations when dealing with unwieldy customers. And certainly customers have become more unwieldy in the last decade or two than they were in those times.”
He also seemed to have mixed feelings about the sizeable reduction in bankroll requirements for gaming salons. During Commission deliberations, Markantonis said, “If I’m playing $300,000 a hand, I don’t want some peon who just happened to be able to put $20,000 to get into the salon sitting down on the sixth seat on the (blackjack) table and deciding to call a blackjack card. So really, the players themselves are semi-policing themselves because then they come straight to the operators and say, ‘Don’t ever do that again,’ or ‘Don’t disrespect me,’ or ‘Get that guy out of here.’ or whatever.”
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