STRATEGIC PARTNERS
CARSON CITY, NV The threat of a law restricting games of skill in Nevada has passed for this legislative session, according to a member update by American Amusement Machine Association executive vice-president Peter Gustafson. The Nevada Senate did not send SB412 to the Assembly, and so the measure is off the table for this session. If passed by both houses and signed by the governor, the law would have made it a misdemeanor for the operator of an amusement arcade or amusement center to permit patrons ...
April 21, 2019
CARSON CITY, NV - The threat of a law restricting games of skill in Nevada has passed for this legislative session, according to a member update by American Amusement Machine Association executive vice-president Peter Gustafson. The Nevada Senate did not send SB412 to the Assembly, and so the measure is off the table for this session.
If passed by both houses and signed by the governor, the law would have made it a misdemeanor for the operator of an amusement arcade or amusement center to permit patrons under the age of 18 to play an amusement game that awards a material prize – anything more than a free play – unless he or she were accompanied by an adult.
The bill had to pass out of the State Senate by Friday, April 12 in order to advance during this legislative session, Gustafson explained. "I'm pleased to report it did not," he reported. "For all intents and purposes, the bill is dead."
The AAMA executive director observed that this achievement is attributable to effective advocacy by the industry's trade associations. "Our success in this endeavor demonstrates two things: Your membership in AAMA matters – together we are better. And the recent adoption of our Code of Conduct is already paying dividends. It defines what we stand for and what we aspire to." The Code of Conduct resulted from a joint effort by AAMA and the Amusement and Music Operators Association.
"It must be noted: we were not alone in this effort," Gustafson continued. "This successful outcome was a result of a collaborative effort by AAMA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions and AMOA, who each activated and engaged their respective memberships.
"The entire industry came together to speak out against this issue," Gustafson applauded, "and the results prove the value of delivering a unified response."
The willingness of AAMA, AMOA and IAAPA members to work together in building government relations is crucial. "On behalf of AAMA president Holly Hampton [Bay Tek Games] and AAMA government relations co-chairs Rick Kirby [Betson Enterprises] and Joe Camarota [Alpha-Omega], I'd like to thank you for supporting our effort to prevent 412 from advancing out of the State Senate. Your contributions and support made a difference benefiting the entire industry. Well done."
