The changes will allow certain casinos and gaming venues to adjust their operations
Nevada’s gaming regulators have signed off on major changes to the state’s rules governing private gaming rooms, often called salons. The Nevada Gaming Commission voted unanimously after nearly a year of debate between regulators and industry leaders. The goal of the revisions is to make salons more attractive to high-level players while maintaining oversight in a market facing tourism dips and recent compliance fines.
Salon rules have been adjusted only a few times since their introduction in 2001. The most recent updates in 2008 lowered the entry threshold from $500,000 to $300,000. The new amendments go even further, cutting the baseline deposit or credit requirement to just $20,000. Regulators also agreed to allow operators to apply for flexibility in setting their own minimums based on experience running salons.
Poker has now been approved for salon play for the first time, with a $20,000 minimum buy-in to start a game and a $10,000 minimum per player. Guests of salon patrons also received new leeway, as they can now remain in the space and gamble for up to 24 hours without the main patron present. Previously, that time limit was capped at six hours.
Industry advocates, including Wynn, MGM, and Hard Rock working with the Nevada Resort Association, pushed for even looser standards but still received significant concessions. NRA CEO Virginia Valentine praised the final outcome as a fair balance for both operators and regulators.
Commissioners, however, did not approve the changes without expressing concerns. Questions were raised about potential money laundering risks and about whether salons could drift from their intended purpose as high-limit gaming spaces. Commissioner George Markantonis warned against treating them as luxury lounges rather than strictly gaming rooms.
Casino representatives argued that salons are already under tighter scrutiny than public gaming floors, with more staff oversight and enhanced surveillance. Whether the new rules spark more business remains to be seen, but operators believe the lowered thresholds will expand the pool of eligible patrons and help keep play inside Nevada’s borders.
