Nevada Internet Gambling Law
Nevada Gaming Control Act and Ancillary Statutes Incorporating Amendments to Chapters 462 - 466 of NRS. Note: Use the following links to access NRS Chapters 462-466 on the Nevada State Legislature. Is real money online gambling legal in Nevada? Real money gambling is perfectly legal as long as you stick to Nevada-licensed websites. There is a risk that joining the action on one of the offshore poker. In essence, the US government leaves things up to Nevada to decide how to treat online gambling in the state. With such a reputation for brick and mortar gambling, NV is a position where the profits that the. New Jersey currently stands tall as the leader in the online gambling USA space. New Jersey passed its online gambling law in 2013. The new statute allowed Atlantic City casinos to apply for internet gaming permits. Those permits authorized the casinos to host a variety of online.
Nevada would not be the state that it is known today without Las Vegas—without the entertainment, without the gambling, and without
Las Vegas is hailed as the Entertainment Capital of the World due to its large and flashy compendium of attractions, bars, and most especially casinos. The city of Las Vegas ropes the tourists in who are mostly there to gamble, prompting the state to have a more refined set of laws to avoid disturbance and people looking to perform crime in casinos.
If you are planning to visit Las Vegas for a game of a lifetime, you need to know that you can be criminally responsible for some violations you might be unwittingly doing. Read the rest of this article about Nevada gambling laws so you can have an amazing time gambling—without doing something that might be illegal!
History of Nevada gambling legalization and Nevada gambling laws
While the government of Nevada seems very lax when it comes to gambling, they actually enforce strict regulations that will make you think twice about Las Vegas gambling.
In 1931, after the establishment of The Wide Open Gambling Bill, Las Vegas opened to become one of the key spots if you want to do authorized and no-holds-barred gambling. Before, people retreat to the underground just to gamble. However, it changed when Assemblyman Phil Tobin passed his gambling bill. It was met with skepticism by puritans at first but was eventually widely accepted by the rest of the public. Needless to say, the bill was approved and soon Las Vegas was riddled with establishments with flashy neon lights and a noisy barrage of coins and chips.
Of course, the passed bill—which is still enjoyed by people today—did not mean that misconducts are allowed when playing. Gambling is still pretty much a guarded industry by the law and it holds penalties stricter penalties than you would expect.
Types of Nevada gambling laws violations
The permitted forms of gambling in Las Vegas and the rest of Nevada are most of the regular casino games. They also include online casino games, sports betting, lottery betting, bingo games, live poker, online poker, and more. Due to the games’ mechanics filled with secrecy, crimes can be easily committed. Below are some of the most common misconducts when gambling in Nevada that you might have been doing or have done without your knowledge.
Cheating
According to NRS 465.015, the legal definition of cheating is altering the elements of chance or method of selection of criteria in order to determine the result of the game, the amount of payment in the end, and the value of wagering instrument or credit. There are countless ways one can cheat such as old tricks like the roulette past posting and newer, more advanced cheating tricks such as hiding a camera under the player’s sleeve. Nonetheless, any type of cheating is inadmissible. This is also not inclusive only to premium casinos. Even if you are cheating in a rundown gaming hub, you can still be persecuted.
When caught cheating, you can be charged with category B felony that is comprised of penalties like State prison imprisonment of not less than a year and not more than six years and fines of $10,000.
The rest of Chapter 465 of the Nevada Revised Statutes goes into deeper details of the Nevada gambling laws about cheating. You can read all about them here.
Not paying your casino marker
If you are gambling in Las Vegas and you do not have enough cash on hand and you are not willing to go back and forth to a bank to withdraw money, you can avail a casino marker. This is basically a line of credit where you are given a predetermined amount of money (in chips) that you can use to gamble. If you do not pay your casino marker, you are committing a crime and can be charged with a misdemeanor if your credit is less than $650 and a category D felony if it is more than that.
A misdemeanor has penalties of 6 months in jail and fines of $1,000 while category D felony contains one to four years in prison, fines of $10,000 per marker, and a bad credit record.
Fraud
Similar to cheating in many aspects, fraud is using information taken inside the casino or enlisting an employee of the casino establishment to deceive another player or get the upper hand in the game. It also means tampering with devices or claiming winnings that are not theirs. This is a broad matter and can also mesh with cheating. It is up for the court to differentiate cheating and fraud but in retrospect, fraud is more having a piece of confidential information to utilize an advantage.
Defenses against gambling misconduct accusations
Fortunately, you can contest all gambling violation charges that are indicted to you. The majority of casinos in Las Vegas are equipped with surveillance cameras and witnesses that can be your evidence. Still, you need to come up with other defenses to further strengthen your claim.
When accused of cheating or fraud, you can counter that no cheating happened and the alleged violation was just a product of a mix-up. Apart from the defendant providing evidence, the prosecutor needs to show their own. Seeing as you are innocent, the prosecution will find it difficult to press you to the charges. For casino marker crimes or casino debts, you can assert that you did not intend to defraud or the marker was actually invalid.
What could be a good time of Las Vegas gambling could quickly turn sour if you are suddenly accused of gambling misconduct. To prove your innocence, get the help of a criminal defense attorney in Nevada that is knowledgeable of the stringent Las Vegas casino laws and Nevada gambling laws.
As its name, gambling is a game of risks and chances and to keep it as a fun version of that, do not attempt to perform misconduct at all as it is not worth it in the end.
Nevada has a massive gambling industry that generates close to $11 billion in revenue on an annual basis. In total, the local land-based casinos offer more slots and table games than all the casinos from all the other states combined.
Gambling in Nevada was decriminalized in 1869. In 1909, the state instituted a prohibition, which lasted until 1931. That year, casinos were fully legalized throughout most of the state, making Nevada the first US territory with a regulated gambling industry.
Nevada’s monopoly on regulated casino-style gambling lasted until 1976 when New Jersey approved casinos in Atlantic City.
Nevada Gambling Law Summary
It should go without saying that Nevada is very serious about protecting its gambling industry. Running an unlicensed gambling establishment is likely to result in felony charges. Placing out-of-state bets or playing on offshore gambling sites while remaining within state lines is considered a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.
Nevada regulations dealing with unlawful gambling are very harsh. Nevertheless, most of the penalties that can be brought on individual players are related to cheating during the game – trying to stack the odds in your favor in this manner isn’t a good idea, as people who engage in cheating are likely to face felony charges.
Most gambling-related matters are covered by Nevada Revised Statutes 463.010 et seq. The minimum gambling age in Nevada is 21. People below 21 aren’t allowed to enter casinos, even when accompanied by an adult.
Online Gambling in Nevada
Florida Gambling Law
Nevada has also been at the forefront of the fight for legal internet gambling in the US. In 2001, the local legislature voted in favor of regulated online poker, but unfortunately, the US Justice Department forced Nevada politicians to back down on this issue. In 2013, Nevada re-introduced its online poker regulations, creating the first fenced iGaming market in the country.
What’s more, since Nevada wasn’t affected by the federal ban on sports betting, it enjoyed a de-facto monopoly on this form of gambling between 1992 and 2018. In 2010, Nevada lawmakers approved new regulations about betting over the internet and mobile sportsbook apps, paving the way for future legislation of this kind.
The new, post-iGaming bill regulations address the issue of unlicensed online gambling. Consequently, playing on one of the offshore sites could be considered a misdemeanor. However, no gamblers have been prosecuted so far, so it’s hard to determine whether the trial would result in a conviction or not.
Nevada Casinos
The largest casinos are located in Las Vegas Strip (MGM Grand, Wynn, Bellagio, Circus Circus), other parts of Las Vegas (Santa Fe Station, Orleans, Aliante), and Henderson (Sunset Station, Green Valley Ranch). Other important gambling destinations include Reno, Laughlin, and West Wendover, but it should be noted that slots are pretty much ubiquitous across the entire state and can be found in hotels, airports, and grocery stores.
Nevada Gambling History
Unfortunately, Nevada doesn’t have an online casino industry, as both the local politicians and the Nevada Gaming Control Board are more interested in protecting the land-based gambling industry than in offering the players more options. Nevada Attorney General has recently signed a petition urging Vice President Mike Pence to restore the federal Wire Act to curb the expansion of internet gambling.
On a brighter note, Nevada residents are free to use social gambling sites, such as Slotomania or Double Down Casino. MyVegas deserves a special mention here, as the site allows Nevada-based players to win real casino comps that can later be redeemed at the MGM Grand.
Nevada Poker
With more than 50 high-profile poker rooms, Nevada is the poker capital of the United States. WSOP Main Event is always hosted in the Silver State, and local players have hundreds of tournaments to choose from every month. The largest poker rooms are operated by Bellagio, Venetian Casino, Wynn Casino, and the Orleans Casino.
Online poker is legal, but out of three poker rooms that were supposed to operate within the state, only WSOP Nevada managed to gain any traction with the fans. Social sites aside, WSOP accounts for pretty much all online poker traffic in the Silver State. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as WSOP shares its player pool with sites from Delaware and New Jersey, giving the local players access to out-of-state competition.
Nevada Sports Betting
Sports betting has been legal in Nevada since 1949, as the state wasn’t affected by the federal PASPA ban thanks to a grandfather clause. Thus, the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding this issue hasn’t changed the local sports betting industry directly. Licensed Nevada casinos are allowed to operate live sportsbooks, and 60 venues offer services of this kind.
Nevada-based sportsbooks are allowed to offer their services over the internet via mobile betting apps. As of May 2019, the list of available betting apps includes B-Connected Sports, CG Sports, MGM Resorts, NV Sports, Station Casinos, South Point, Treasure Island, Westgate SuperBook, William Hill, and Wynn. It should be noted that the registration process can’t be completed online – new customers have to visit the relevant casino in person to activate their betting accounts.
Nevada Daily Fantasy Sports
In October 2015, the Nevada Gaming Control Board determined that paid DFS contests meet the state’s definition of gambling. Popular DFS platforms, including FanDuel and DraftKings, responded by immediately suspending service in the Silver State. Theoretically speaking, DFS operators could return to Nevada as soon as they acquire gaming licenses, but so far, none of the major players have opted to take this route.
As it stands, Nevada residents are banned from participating in DFS contests hosted by FanDuel, DraftKings, and Yahoo DFS.
Nevada Lotteries
Nevada doesn’t have a state lottery, as this form of gambling is prohibited by Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution. Challenging the status quo would require two separate voter referendums and approval by the state legislature, which doesn’t seem possible since the local casino lobby is vehemently opposed to the idea. Also, the general public doesn’t seem to be interested in pursuing this issue due to the prevalence of progressive jackpot slots.
Nevada Bingo
Bingo is available both commercially and as a charity game in Nevada. Some of the most popular live bingo venues include South Point Bingo, Palace Station Casino Bingo Hall, Plaza Hotel & Casino Bingo Room, and Bingo Room at Green Valley Ranch. Online bingo has the same legal status as casino games, which means that Nevada residents don’t have access to any legitimate bingo sites.
Nevada Online Gambling FAQ
What types of gambling are available in Nevada?
With most of the world’s largest casinos and hotels located on the Las Vegas Strip and over 250 gambling establishment littering the local landscape, Nevada is a gambling aficionado’s dream come true. The Silver State gives you access to every imaginable form of casino-style gambling, but surprisingly enough, it doesn’t have its own lottery. Nevada was the first state to introduce iGaming-friendly regulations and is one of the two states that offer high-profile regulated online gambling sites as of the time of writing of this guide.
What laws cover online gambling in Nevada?
Online gambling is covered by Nevada Revised Statutes 463-465.
Is real money online gambling legal in Nevada?
Real money gambling is perfectly legal as long as you stick to Nevada-licensed websites. There is a risk that joining the action on one of the offshore poker sites might be considered a misdemeanor. However, no players have been prosecuted so far, which makes it hard to determine what the potential ruling could be.
Which offshore gambling sites accept Nevada residents?
Most of the major offshore sites would be happy to accept a new customer from Nevada.
What are the most popular banking options supported by Nevada-facing sites?
Local gambling sites offer more banking options than the offshore operators, but fortunately, a credit or debit card is pretty much guaranteed to work in both scenarios. Cashing out is usually handled via a bank wire transfer, but the specifics are likely to depend on the site that you’ll join.
Does Nevada offer any intrastate online gambling?
Yes. Nevada has already launched its fenced online gambling market. However, most of the sites in question can’t compare with major offshore services in terms of traffic, which might be very difficult to swallow for internet poker enthusiasts that are already used to playing on major networks.
Is it likely for Nevada to regulate online gambling?
Nevada has already regulated online gambling and has its own intrastate iGaming industry.