Nevada has paved the way when it comes to gaming and gambling laws in the US, being the first state to legalize gambling back in 1931. As such, Nevada has a long history of legislation that has lead to the current state of regulation and for gambling and gaming.

The Gaming Control Board was first established in 1955 to enact stricter restrictions and more governmental oversight on gambling. In 1959, this was further strengthened with the creation of the Nevada Gaming Commission to act as the final authority over all things game-related.

In 2013, interactive gambling (or online gambling) was legalized through the state legislature, which empowered the Nevada Gaming Commission to take control of online gambling.

Today, Nevada is one of only two states in the nation that allow state-wide casino-style gambling. For a further look into what forms of gambling are legalized in the state of Nevada as well as more information on finding a lawyer who specializes in gaming law, refer to the information below.

Legal Forms of Gambling in Nevada

It may come as a surprise to some, but not all forms of gambling are legal in the state of Nevada. If you’re looking for a quick overview, take a look at our list below. For a much fuller list of the legal forms of gambling, refer to the Nevada gaming laws and regulations given by the Gaming Control Board.

• Gambling Games

A “gambling game” is defined as, “any game played with cards, dice, equipment or any mechanical, electromechanical or electronic device or machine for money… or any representative of value…”.

This includes legal games: “… faro, monte, roulette, keno, bingo, fan-tan, twenty-one, blackjack, seven-and-a-half, big injun, klondike, craps, poker, chuck-a-luck, Chinese chuck-a-luck (dai shu), wheel of fortune, chemin de fer, baccarat, pai gow, beat the banker, panguingui, slot machine, any banking or percentage game or any other game or device approved by the commission…” (NRS 463.0152)

• Gaming Devices

Gaming devices are defined under Nevada law as: “any object used remotely or directly in connection with gaming or any game which affects the result of a wager by determining win or loss…” (NRS 463.0155)

These include slot machines and any interactive devices that have a “control program”, and thus also includes any electronic betting game that is pursuant of regulations established by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

• Online Poker and Live Poker

Both table-based poker and online interactive poker games are legal in Nevada, although both are restricted by different regulations.

Online interactive poker was at first only available to Nevada residents, but landmark legislation in 2014 has allowed Delaware casinos to open up their poker pools to Nevada residents, and vice versa. It appears that other states may also join this intra-state compact, with New Jersey being added to the compact in 2017 and several more states in talks for the future.

• Sports Betting

Two types of sports betting are legal in Nevada: sports pool and racebook betting. A number of these types of gambling are available online and through mobile apps to residents, along with the traditional brick-and-mortar sports betting most people are familiar with.

Finding a Gaming Lawyer

Las Vegas is famous for its many gaming establishments, who are regulated very strictly by the Gaming Control Board to ensure no cheating or fraud occurs. This has led many casinos to employ their own in-house security teams in order to maintain order and provide a safe experience to their guests while keeping a close eye out for anyone getting too out of hand or any fraud that may be occurring.

But this same fun atmosphere can also lead to legal trouble and eventually criminal charges, especially when it comes to gambling and gaming. Casinos treat fraud-related charges very seriously, especially in the case of unpaid casino markers.

If you are concerned about charges related to gaming and gambling, find a Las Vegas criminal defense attorney to aid you in avoiding conviction or reducing penalties associated with criminal charges.