The Nevada Gaming Control Board is set to evaluate proposed changes to several of the state’s Technical Standards for Gaming Devices and Associated Equipment at its meeting scheduled for October 7. This review encompasses various areas, including slot systems, cashless wagering accounts, and race and sports betting.
Ten standards are on the table for revision, with draft dates ranging from June to August. On September 4, the board informed licensees about the revisions and the upcoming meeting. Stakeholders have the opportunity to submit their comments until October 5.
While the changes cover a range of revisions, most are significant, involving the addition or removal of language. For instance, the modifications to Standard 9, which addresses digital parimutuel systems, primarily involve minor edits. In contrast, Standard 3 concerning slot metering systems contains substantial text additions and deletions. Frequent explanatory notes accompany the proposed changes.
Nevada holds the position as the leading gaming state in the United States, yet its regulatory framework related to technology is often perceived as slower and less organized compared to emerging jurisdictions nationwide. Since Mike Dreitzer became chair of the NGCB in June, modernization has been a crucial focus, and these proposed revisions are part of that initiative.
Jeremy Eberwein, the chief of the board's Technology Division, acknowledged, "We finally got to a point where we said, you know what, let’s drop all our other efforts right now and get these over the finish line and get them up for comment so that we can make sure that we’re current with things.”
A significant component of this initiative involves consolidating technical information into a single, accessible source. Eberwein noted that while some Technical Standards already existed, other necessary details were scattered across the state’s Minimum Internal Control Standards, which included a mix of technical and procedural requirements.
The intent is to simplify the process for licensees to locate technical information without navigating multiple resources. Most explanations in the proposed revisions reference adaptations from the MICS and other original standards. Eberwein stated this process has been developing over several years, with progress periodically stalling. "We had various iterations of the drafts internally probably going back at least a decade, and just never made it to the finish line for various reasons," he explained.
The board anticipates that these proposal drafts are nearly finalized, though stakeholder input will likely influence the outcome during the comment period and at the hearing. The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, a group that typically participates in these discussions, had not responded to requests for comment by the publication deadline. Depending on feedback and possible objections from the Nevada Gaming Commission, new standards could be adopted and published by the end of the year.
The NGCB has experienced a busy stretch since the beginning of 2025. During this time, the regulator has imposed five multimillion-dollar fines for anti-money laundering violations against various entities on the Las Vegas Strip, marking an unusual wave of sanctions for the gaming capital.
Notable cases included investigations involving Resorts World Las Vegas, MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and the Venetian, all of which pertained to AML violations linked to illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, who was added to the state’s exclusion list in April. In a separate matter, Wynn Las Vegas faced scrutiny unrelated to Bowyer’s play, forfeiting $130 million to the federal government over multiple proxy betting violations, which federal prosecutors described as potentially the largest forfeiture by a casino resulting from admissions of wrongdoing.
The NGCB is also engaged in overhauling various regulations, including those governing gaming salons and AML reporting. Dreitzer, the fifth chair of the NGCB since 2019, holds a partial term running until January 2027. He expressed interest in serving a full four-year term once his current tenure concludes. With his experience in supplier and testing labs, Dreitzer is keenly aware of the technical issues confronting the state.
In a previous interview, Dreitzer remarked, "When I started here, I had multiple conversations with various licensees who operate across multiple jurisdictions, and the consistent commentary I heard was that they would go to Nevada last, if not never at all, because there was concern about the time it would take, the lack of regulatory consistency, the lack of clarity. So when I came in, in view of the mandate from the governor and the work began by Chair Hendrick, I felt I needed to do something."
