What is a tavern? And when does it become a casino? In Nevada the state Gaming Commission has been agonising over the definition in order to amend its machine regulations.
Last week a seven-hour hearing led to a 4-1 vote in favour of amendments to the laws covering where machines can be legally operated. At the centre of the debate was the Dotty’s Gaming and Spirits chain, which had been accused of evading the regulations by offering a far greater concentration of slot machines without the other ingredients which make up a ‘tavern’.
Now new taverns must have at least 2,000 sq.ft of public space, a bar seating at least nine and a kitchen operating at least half of the time that the location is open – if the owner wants to install slots.
The Dotty’s business model – now up to around 60 locations in the chain – requires a maximum of machines and a minimum of anything else. The local resort association and the tavern owners organisation both felt that the model did not fit a tavern, a view which was supported by some of the suburban casinos, such as Station Casinos, which clearly felt that the Dotty’s model was taking away custom.
Each Dotty’s has 15 slant-top machines and offers packaged foods and drinks. Fifty-plus Dotty’s locations will now have to fit bars at an estimated cost of $6m.
