Bettors in Nevada may soon be able to use their wagering accounts for more forms of casino gambling.
State regulators are reportedly planning to discuss allowing the use of betting accounts—currently used only for sports betting and some online games—to bet on slots, video poker and bingo, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
“Currently, there are separate account-wagering regulations for each type of gaming, such as for mobile gaming, races and sports, interactive and slots,” said A.G. Burnett, chairman of the Gaming Control Board, according to the news outlet. “Each may have slightly different requirements. The aim of the changes we are making to the regulations is to bring them all into alignment so they have the same requirements for each, with only minor variances.”
The board plans to hold the discussions at a special workshop on Thursday.
Burnett said they’ve received a proposal to change the regulations from the gaming industry “a while back.” If it pushes through, the new regulations will be based on 2015 changes made to the Nevada gaming law.
“What we’re doing is making it easier for the patron,” Burnett said, according to Las Vegas Sun. “We are moving from a cash-based society to an electronic payment-based society, and these regulations are attempting to address that. Specifically, (among other things) we will be changing the definition of a wagering voucher to include digital payments. We’re trying to move an all-digital representation of a wagering voucher.”
Allowing betting accounts for casino games will prove to be a boon for Nevada casinos, which has been riding on a high thanks to a double-digit rise in revenues in October. Figures released Tuesday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board show statewide casino gaming revenue of $887.5 million in October, 11.2% higher than October 2015’s take. However, the figure failed to top the previous month’s $949 million.
Nevada’s sportsbooks also continued their winning ways, reporting revenue of $42.3 million, up nearly 26% year-on-year. Football claimed $30.8 million of this total, up 27.7% from the same month last year. The books enjoyed a football win rate of 7.5% on handle of $400.5 million, the fifth straight year of improved wagering volume and second highest football handle in the state’s history.
