Nevada Casinos

It was the first state to fully legalize and regulate Nevada casinos. It was always known as a renegade state. With little in the way of an economy, lawmakers determined the best way to attract people to the state was to allow Nevada gambling at a time when most states were going the other direction.

There are no restrictions on the types of games permitted in Nevada casinos. Games of luck and those that require skill are all legal. This includes slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and house-banked card games. Nevada is the only state that permits straight sports betting. It is known for its massive sports books. It is also home to more than 50 live poker rooms.

One form of Nevada gambling that is absent is a state lottery. Nevada casinos have fought the addition of a lottery, claiming that the state should not compete against its largest industry. Nevada residents looking to buy lottery tickets must drive to Arizona, California, Oregon or Idaho to do so.

Types of Nevada Online Gambling Allowed

There are three types of legal Nevada online gambling. Off-track betting is legal on mobile apps. These can only be made on apps and websites operated by licensed sports betting companies.

Websites and apps may accept bets on sporting events. This includes the same bets permitted in a live sportsbook. Online poker is also legal. Online casino gambling is legal only when the bet is made on the property of a casino.

Daily fantasy sports are technically legal in Nevada, but they require a gaming license. When the Nevada Gaming Control Board released this opinion in October 2015, all daily fantasy sports companies left the state.

Types of Live Nevada Gambling

Popular Games

• Slots: Yes
• Blackjack: Yes
• Poker: Yes
• Craps/Roulette: Yes
• Horses: Yes
• Lottery: No

In Nevada, it is more about what type of gambling is not legal. The only major form of Nevada gambling not allowed is a state lottery. Nevada casinos are permitted to spread a full menu of casino games. Slot machines and video poker are legal in bars and gas stations. Casinos in Nevada may offer these games, as well as blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, keno, live poker, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and many other games that use cards. Live keno lounges are also legal in casinos.

Full-service Nevada casinos may offer a sports book. This is where wagers on sporting events are made. The types of permitted wagers include straight bets, parlays, teasers, futures and in-play. Off-track betting on horses is also legal.

Charities may hold bingo and raffles. There is little demand for these forms of gambling in the state.

Nevada Gambling Laws

While most forms of gambling are legal, there are still strict Nevada gambling laws for illegal activity. This is done to protect the licensed industry. Most gambling crimes are a felony. The state excludes gamblers convicted of crimes from all of its casinos. This is called the Nevada Black Book.

The state constitution makes the lottery illegal. It would require approval by the state legislature and two separate statewide referendums to change that. It is the only form of gambling that may only be approved this way. This is part of why a state lottery has never been approved in Nevada.

Nevada law permits resorts to offer a full slate of casino games. There are no restrictions. Nevada casinos and gambling companies may submit new games for approval. A 60-day test period is required. Casinos in Nevada must hold an unrestricted gaming license to offer table games and sports books. Major jurisdictions with a population above 700,000 require unrestricted gaming licenses to host at least 200 hotel rooms and provide a 24-hour dining option. There must also be a bar with at least 30 seats. Smaller jurisdictions between 100,000 and 700,000 in the population are required to have at least 300 hotel rooms.

There is a secondary license in Nevada. It is called a restricted gaming license. These can be bars, gas stations, and grocery stores. The maximum number of games permitted at restricted gaming licenses in 15 for bars and 7 at stores in many jurisdictions. These establishments may not offer table games or sports betting.

State law permits smoking in any gaming establishment. Gambling is legal in all jurisdictions except Boulder City and Panaca.

There are several forms of legal online gambling in Nevada. Sports bets may be placed on the Internet and on mobile apps. The device must be located in Nevada at the time of the wager. Nevada online poker rooms are legal, and a great way for residents to play poker from home. Like sports betting, the player must be located in Nevada at the time of action.

The governor is permitted to enter into online poker liquidity sharing agreements. Nevada Governor Sandoval and Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed an agreement in February 2014 to do just that. It went live in March 2015.

List of Nevada Casinos

All jurisdictions permit gambling except Boulder City and Panaca. Boulder City is a former government town that banned “sins” during the construction of Hoover Dam. The anti-gambling laws remain on the books to this day. Panaca is a small Morman town near the Utah border in Lincoln County.

Virtually any bar in Nevada offers video poker. The same goes for convenience stores and most grocery stores. There are even slots at airports.

Casinos are legal in every county. These Nevada casino locations are: Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, and many smaller towns. All cities of any significance have Nevada casinos operating. Nearly all small towns have at least a few slots or video poker machines. You can find all casino locations using our Nevada casinos map as a guide.

Below you will find a detailed list of all of the Las Vegas casinos, along with locations and their websites for any additional information you need.

For those that want to have a great experience outside of Las Vegas, there are plenty of Reno casinos to choose from.

You will also be able to find other Nevada casinos spread throughout the state. This gives gamblers an opportunity to go visit other locations around Nevada that have more to offer than just their casinos.

History of Nevada Gambling

Nevada gambling was mostly decriminalized in 1869. A progressive movement brought anti-gambling laws to the books in 1909. Social gaming was permitted through prohibition. On March 19, 1931, Nevada casinos were fully legalized throughout the state.

The Northern Club received the first gaming license. This was followed by Las Vegas Club and Apache Hotel. All were located in the areas now known as Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.

Las Vegas already had an underground gambling industry when it was legalized in 1931. The building of Hoover Dam helped create a sin district in the city. That is because alcohol and gambling were all illegal in Boulder City. Alcohol was legalized in 1969. Gambling is illegal in Boulder City to this day.

The first Nevada casinos offered slots and table games. Sports betting was added in 1949. It was the first state to fully embrace bookmaking. Horse racing was added the same year.

Nevada was the only state with licensed and regulated casinos until 1976. That is when New Jersey voters approved gambling in Atlantic City. Nevada still enjoyed a regional monopoly. South Dakota legalized casinos in 1989. It was not until the 1990’s that nearby states like Arizona and California started to permit casinos, however, there were always card clubs in California.

Gambling moved to the Internet in 2000’s. Nevada passed a law that permitted online poker in 2001. The U.S. Justice Department bullied the state into backing down on entering that industry. It revived the law in 2013. That is when regulations were written.

Ultimate Poker opened on April 30, 2013. It was the first licensed online poker room in the country. WSOP.com launched on September 17, 2013. Real Gaming entered the market six months later.

Online poker did not turn out to be profitable for Ultimate Poker. It ceased operations in November 2014. WSOP.com and Real Gaming remain in the market.

Sports betting over the Internet and on mobile apps were approved in 2010. This included off-track betting.

Sports kiosks that accepted bets were installed in bars starting in 2010. This made resort casinos unhappy about the competition. The Nevada Resorts Association lobbied for the removal of the kiosks from taverns in 2013 and prevailed. William Hill was the main operator of these machines. Most were converted into deposit hot spots by the July 1, 2013, deadline. They are still in operation today.

Nevada Casinos & Gambling FAQ