Nevada gaming regulators to consider allowing full online casino in the state

The hearing on May 13 is the first step in the potential adjustment to Gaming Regulation 5A. In a notice issued late Monday, the Gaming Control Board said it was seeking public comment on proposed amendments.

A list of 15 suggested changes offered by regulators includes the removal of “provisions limiting interactive gaming to the game of poker,” adding “all games offered on an interactive gaming system,” and amending “authorized player requirements.”

Remote registration for mobile sports betting has long been opposed by major casino operators in Nevada who want customers to visit their traditional casinos.

The potential changes to the state’s interactive gaming regulations are being considered as other states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, have legalized online casino gaming. Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey saw a tremendous amount of activity through online gaming last year the nation’s casino industry was closed due to the pandemic.

Nevada has offered online poker since 2013 and at one time had four different Internet poker websites. Today, there is just one online poker site – WSOP.com, which is overseen by Caesars Entertainment.  In 2014, Nevada signed on to an online gaming compact with Delaware, allowing the two small states to pool players. New Jersey joined the compact a few years later.

The Control Board is seeking input from gaming companies with suggested changes to the regulations by next Tuesday. No action will be taken by the three-member Gaming Control Board next week since the hearing is just for discussion purposes.
Implementing full online casino games would take a vote from both Control Board and the five-member Nevada Gaming Commission.

Nevada first implemented an interactive gaming regulation in 2001, but the Legislature and then-Gov. Brian Sandoval weighed to push for changes that allowed Internet poker. The entire process to get the bill pass was approved in 24 hours.

However, because a customer had to be physically located within the state’s boundaries to gamble online, poker was unsuccessful due to a lack of enough players.