Left for dead less than a week ago, a bill allowing Internet gambling in Nevada passed through the state legislature on Monday.
The initiative was passed as part of AB 466, a bill that creates a uniform, statewide system for issuing work cards to gambling employees. The move was part of a tactic speculated last week in IGN by one of the movement's founders, Nevada Assemblywoman Merle Berman. Although AB 576, the original bill allowing for online gambling didn't make a legislative deadline last week and the movement was reported as killed throughout Nevada.
But Berman remained steadfast, and told IGN that the bill could be piggybacked into other legislation that was yet to be voted on.
The amended bill passed the Senate on a 17-6 vote after it cleared the Assembly on a voice vote. Nev. Governor Kenny Guinn has 10 days to veto the bill if he chooses, otherwise the measure will become law. Berman is confident that the bill will become law.
Once the bill's enacted, it will be another 18 months to two years before online casinos are up and running in Nevada.
Among some of the provisions in the bill that passed are:
- "Interactive Gaming" is broadly defined, but excludes sports and race betting.
- The Gaming Commission will adopt regulations when it determines:
- Interactive gaming can be operated in compliance with all applicable federal laws.
- Interactive gaming systems are secure and reliable and provide reasonable assurance that. players are of lawful age on communication from a jurisdiction where it is lawful to place such a bet.
- The Commission will establish regulations and investigation fees for applying to receive:
- a license to operate interactive gaming;
- a license to manufacture interactive gaming systems (includes creation of software);
- a license for the manufacturer of equipment associated with interactive gaming.
- The standards they create for these new licenses must be as stringent as the standards similar, non-interactive, licenses.
- Commission will create standards for the location and security of computer systems, hardware and software used in interactive gaming.
- In Clark & Washoe counties, to operate interactive gaming, the establishment must already hold a non-restricted resort hotel license.
- Specific requirements are set for those in smaller counties that are similar to that of a non-restricted resort hotel license.
- License fee to operate interactive gaming is $500,000 for a 2-year period.
- License fee to manufacture interactive gaming systems is $125,000 for a 1-year period.
- License fee to manufacture equipment associated with interactive gaming is $50,000 for a 1-year period.
- The legislation clarifies that the debt of a player of licensed interactive game is fully enforceable.