Nevada Regulators Make High-End Gaming Salons Easier to Access

Nevada’s exclusive casino salons, which people have long seen as playgrounds for super-rich gamblers and celebrities, will soon open up to more visitors. The Nevada Gaming Commission has given the green light to big changes in the rules for these private rooms. This marks the first major update to salon regulations in almost 20 years.

Rule Changes Bring Poker, Flexibility, and Easier Entry to Las Vegas Salons

The updated rules make it easier to get in. Gamblers now need to have $20,000 instead of $300,000 like before. Back in 2001, when they first started these private rooms, you had to have half a million bucks. The people in charge say this new lower amount will let more big-time visitors play without everyone watching them on the main casino floor. They are talking about people like sports stars, famous performers, and top business people.

Poker will join the list of games available in salons. The rules say one player must buy in for $10,000 at least, with the table needing $20,000 total to start a game. Casinos will get more leeway to set slot machine minimums, too, getting rid of the old $500-per-spin rule.

Other changes allow salons to open to the public for a short time and let a salon patron’s guest stay longer — from six hours to a whole day. Operators said the longer time would help things run smoothly and stop awkward moments when guests had to leave.

Gaming Leaders Tout Growth, Commissioners Raise Red Flags on Salon Access

Gaming Control Board Chairman Mike Dreitzer informed commissioners earlier this month about their straightforward goal: to expand salon play to generate more tax revenue and maintain Nevada’s competitiveness at a time when most US states now allow legal gambling.

Some people disagreed. Commissioner George Markantonis worried that lowering the entry requirements could weaken casino protections and create enforcement problems. He stressed that salons were never intended to be simple hideaways for celebrities avoiding public attention. Given recent federal scrutiny of anti-money-laundering measures at major properties, he cautioned that the changes might overextend regulators and operators.

Industry leaders say the change shows what is happening in the market now. Virginia Valentine, who heads the Nevada Resort Association, says Las Vegas has grown into a world center for sports and entertainment. It now brings in a wider range of famous visitors who want privacy. She also says that gaming rooms do not just make money from gambling.

They also boost spending on food, shows, and hotel stays. These are key income sources as casinos now rely more on money from product offerings other than gambling.Casino bosses say privacy is still a big draw. Charlie Stone, an exec at Wynn Resorts, points out that with smartphones everywhere, people want secure and private spaces even more. He claims the new rules will let casinos give better service, more comfort, and build stronger ties with their best customers.