Travelers visiting Nevada from other states, including Las Vegas, end up getting surprised that there are no online lottery games. Although it is legal, there are regulated online casino games across the country, interactive slot machines, and other similar games are available in five states. However, Nevada is banning internet gambling and is limited to poker and sports betting.
To bring some change in the state, the Nevada Gaming Control Board will be holding virtual and in-person work sessions along with public comments. This upcoming session, to be held on May 13, will discuss regulations on current law towards interactive gaming. For the last 20 yrs, there has been discussion on enabling state legislation set up for online casino gaming. The board has proposed amendments to Regulate 5A to deal with interactive online gaming.
Request from Public Input
The NGCB meeting on May 13 will also seek public comment along with opinions of gaming industry experts regarding online casino gaming. This input from the public will help create a brief idea of whether passing the amendment for online gaming in Nevada will work.
There are several factors the Nevada committee is considering when it comes to online gaming, which also includes several casinos- 219 according to the American Gaming Association and online sports betting.
Revenue from Online Gaming Industry
One of the reasons Nevada officials are considering bringing in online casinos to the business is adding in more revenue. During the Covid-19 period, there was a boom in the online gaming industry. New Jersey witnessed a boom of $1 billion through online gaming in 2020. Since bricks-and-mortar casinos were shut, online gaming saw a considerable rise. In Pennsylvania, where online casino gaming is legal, there was a 21 percent rise in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). The total value earned was $556.7 million in 2020.
The estimated revenue from online gambling in Nevada is around $2700 million in the next few years.
Upcoming Casinos in Nevada
Nevada isn’t like New Jersey, where Gamblers need to travel to the Atlantic City. Currently, there are more than 200 casinos. As a result, it is arguable whether these broader casinos will positively or negatively affect the industry.
Moreover, there is a question of how these local casinos will compete with upcoming online gambling casinos.
