Assembly Bill No. 583–Committee on Judiciary

March 15, 1999

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Referred to Committee on Judiciary

 

SUMMARY—Revises public policy concerning gaming. (BDR 41-1319)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to gaming; revising the public policy of this state concerning gaming to clarify that it applies to gaming establishments which hold restricted or nonrestricted licenses; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. NRS 463.0129 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 463.0129 1. The legislature hereby finds, and declares to be the

1-3 public policy of this state, that:

1-4 (a) The gaming industry is vitally important to the economy of the state

1-5 and the general welfare of the inhabitants.

1-6 (b) The continued growth and success of gaming is dependent upon

1-7 public confidence and trust that licensed gaming and the manufacture, sale

1-8 and distribution of gaming devices and associated equipment are conducted

1-9 honestly and competitively, that establishments which hold restricted and

1-10 nonrestricted licenses where gaming is conducted and where gambling

1-11 devices are operated do not unduly impact the quality of life enjoyed by

1-12 residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, that the rights of the creditors

1-13 of licensees are protected and that gaming is free from criminal and

1-14 corruptive elements.

1-15 (c) Public confidence and trust can only be maintained by strict

1-16 regulation of all persons, locations, practices, associations and activities

1-17 related to the operation of licensed gaming establishments, the

1-18 manufacture, sale or distribution of gaming devices and associated

1-19 equipment and the operation of inter-casino linked systems.

2-1 (d) All establishments where gaming is conducted and where gaming

2-2 devices are operated, and manufacturers, sellers and distributors of certain

2-3 gaming devices and equipment, and operators of inter-casino linked

2-4 systems must therefore be licensed, controlled and assisted to protect the

2-5 public health, safety, morals, good order and general welfare of the

2-6 inhabitants of the state, to foster the stability and success of gaming and to

2-7 preserve the competitive economy and policies of free competition of the

2-8 State of Nevada.

2-9 (e) To ensure that gaming is conducted honestly, competitively and free

2-10 of criminal and corruptive elements, all gaming establishments in this state

2-11 must remain open to the general public and the access of the general public

2-12 to gaming activities must not be restricted in any manner except as

2-13 provided by the legislature.

2-14 2. No applicant for a license or other affirmative commission approval

2-15 has any right to a license or the granting of the approval sought. Any

2-16 license issued or other commission approval granted pursuant to the

2-17 provisions of this chapter or chapter 464 of NRS is a revocable privilege,

2-18 and no holder acquires any vested right therein or thereunder.

2-19 3. This section does not:

2-20 (a) Abrogate or abridge any common law right of a gaming

2-21 establishment to exclude any person from gaming activities or eject any

2-22 person from the premises of the establishment for any reason; or

2-23 (b) Prohibit a licensee from establishing minimum wagers for any

2-24 gambling game or slot machine.

2-25 Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

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