The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) is set to review proposed changes to several of the state's Technical Standards for Gaming Devices and Associated Equipment at its upcoming meeting on October 7. The revisions will address a range of topics including slot systems, cashless wagering accounts, and sportsbooks.
Ten technical standards are slated for revision, with draft proposals dated from June to August. On September 4, the board informed licensees about the upcoming meeting and invited comments until October 5.
The scale of the revisions varies, with some being more substantial than others. For example, changes to Standard 9 concerning digital parimutuel systems mostly involve minor language additions, while Standard 3 related to slot metering systems will see significant content additions and deletions. All proposals include explanatory notes to clarify the changes.
Despite being the leading gaming state in the U.S., Nevada's regulatory framework on technology has been criticized for its slow and cluttered development compared to emerging jurisdictions. NGCB Chair Mike Dreitzer, who took over last June, has prioritized modernization, and these revisions reflect that commitment.
"We finally reached a point where we decided to focus on completing these revisions and get them out for public comment to ensure we keep pace with industry changes," stated Jeremy Eberwein, head of the board's Technology Division.
Much of the effort has involved consolidating technical information into a single source. Previously, some material was contained within a broader set of requirements known as Minimum Internal Control Standards that mixed technical and procedural directives. The aim is to simplify access for licensees, reducing the need to search through various documents.
Eberwein noted that this effort has been years in the making, with work periodically halted. "We had several internal draft versions over the last decade but hadn’t finalized them for various reasons," he explained.
The NGCB hopes to finalize these drafts, anticipating input from stakeholders during the comment period and at the hearing. The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, a group that usually comments on such proposals, did not respond by the publication deadline. Depending on the feedback received, the new standards could be adopted and formalized by the end of the year.
This marks a critical period for the NGCB. Since January 2025, the board has imposed five multimillion-dollar anti-money laundering fines on Las Vegas Strip entities, representing a remarkable series of sanctions for the city's gaming establishments. The investigations into Resorts World Las Vegas, MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and the Venetian focused on AML violations related to illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, who was added to the state’s exclusion list in April. The case against Wynn Las Vegas did not involve Bowyer's activities.
Wynn recently forfeited $130 million to the federal government due to multiple proxy betting violations, which prosecutors described as possibly the largest forfeiture by a casino following admissions of criminal wrongdoing.
Internally, the NGCB has also been busy revising various regulations, including rules governing gaming salons and AML reporting. Dreitzer, who became the fifth chair of the NGCB since 2019, is currently serving a partial term lasting until January 2027. Earlier this year, he expressed interest in securing a full four-year term once his current term expires. With experience in suppliers and testing labs, Dreitzer understands the technical obstacles that the state faces in the gaming industry.
"When I started here, I had numerous discussions with licensees who work across different jurisdictions, and they consistently expressed that they would consider Nevada last, if at all, due to concerns about the time it would take, lack of regulatory consistency, and clarity," he explained to iGB in January. "Given the governor’s mandate and the groundwork laid by Chair Hendrick, I knew that action was necessary."
