Denial of Gaming Employee Registration / Work Cards

(Now Includes Las Vegas Industry Employees in Club Venues)

In Nevada, an organization called the Nevada Gaming Control Board was created to regulate and control gaming establishments and their employees. One of the Board’s duties is to keep records of the identity, prior activities and present location of all gaming employees in the State of Nevada. A “gaming employee” used to be limited to those persons whose duties were directly associated with gambling; things such as dealers, cashiers, pit bosses, floor/casino hosts, etc. were all required to register with the Board and pass their background check requirements. Employees whose duties were exclusively the preparation or serving of food or beverages were excluded from these background check requirements.

However, on May 1, 2016, a new law took effect designating all Club Venue employees as “gaming employees” for purposes of registration with the Board. What this meant was anyone working for a club in Las Vegas, even in a position such as barback, VIP host, bartender or cocktail server, is now required to register with the Gaming Control Board as a gaming employee, and pass a background check. The Board has full authority to deny an applicant his or her gaming work card.

The Board is required to obtain the applicant’s fingerprints and criminal history when making its determination in allowing the person to work or not, and is allowed to take any other relevant information into consideration as well. The Board has published a  “Criteria for Denial” list, which lays out situations in which the Board will deny an application.

Reasons for Denial include:

1. The commission of, or attempt to commit, any crime involving gaming in any state within the past 10 years;
2. Cheated in, stole from, committed fraud against, or manufactured devices to assist in cheating or defrauding a gaming establishment;
3. For any other cause deemed reasonable.

As you can see, the Board’s authority to deny a gaming employee his or her right to work is extremely broad. The good news is that the law firm of Boley and AlDabbagh has a 100% success rate in the appeal of gaming employee denials.  If you are an industry worker, employed at a club in Las Vegas, or are looking for work as a gaming employee and have been denied your right to work, contact us immediately and we can assist you in appealing the denial.