Nevada's Gaming Policy

Gradual changes in Nevada's gambling scene were sufficient as long as casinos were small, but some grew to 20-30 partners, and one had 50 partners.

All of these had to be found suitable to be licensed. The corporate gaming laws that were enacted allowed companies to form Nevada corporations with a limited number of officers and directors who were 'key employees'.

Howard Hughes was influential in these changes. He envisioned the future growth in southern Nevada gaming as being an increase in capability to handle larger volumes of business.

Such corporations received funding from major money sources that could be identified as not empowered to influence gaming.

This allowed the next major growth of Las Vegas hotels: Las Vegas Hilton, Caesar's Palace, the MGM, and numerous expansions of smaller casinos on the strip such as the Stardust, Frontier, Sands, Desert Inn, and others.

Another major change occurred during the period 1967-1969. At first, corporate ownership of gaming establishments had been discouraged, and most ownership was through proprietors and partnerships.

In 1971, the Gaming Control Board assumed all administrative functions for the Gaming Commission.

The Gaming Policy Board became the Gaming Policy Committee, the membership of which changed to one member of the Gaming Commission and Gaming Control Board; two members of the general public; and two licensees.

In 1977, one member of the State Senate were also added to the Policy Committee. Regulation 6 became the 'accounting control regulation' and was among the first regulations created by the new Gaming Commission.

To protect the integrity of the industry, employee labor organizations became the subject of legislation that provided a mechanism to determine the suitability of union officials who represented gaming employees.

This move grew out of a concern by state officials that organized crime might seek to gain another foothold in Nevada's gaming industry through union activity.

In 1979, it became impossible for supervision to be appointed for casinos in distress because of the removal of operatives, and to keep from having to put people out of work.

In the 1990s, a new and current wave of expansion came upon the Las Vegas scene with the addition of the Mirage, Excalibur, Luxor, Treasure Island, and the MGM Casino Hotel and Theme Park.

Now, there are 87,845 hotel rooms in place and an expected 7,043 additional rooms to come, some of which will replace the recently imploded Dunes, and others that will adorn the shore of the new Lake Las Vegas.