Nevada Legislature

Gaming regulators seemed to float the idea of lowering the minimum gambling age from 21 to 18 at a recent conference.  In a move that could boost gaming revenues, we would be the first state to help close the budget deficit by introducing young adults to wagering.  

Such a move would require a legislative change in the next session and the signature of the Governor.

One irony of the move is that a gambling age of 18 would allow high school seniors to help pay for their own high school education with gaming losses.

Reports from Reno and Carson City are that the special session buzz was at full speed earlier than usual because of the number of legislators already in the building for IFC.

The situation on both sides of the aisle has been roughly the same: those already in Carson City are griping about the inconvenience of a special session and the lack of an agreed-upon plan, preferably one with their name on it as a sponsor. Those who have not yet arrived in Carson City are griping about the inconvenience of a special session, how they are too busy to get there yet and the lack of an agreed-upon plan, preferably one with their name on it as a sponsor.

All whining aside, there is one problematic undercurrent in almost every conversation. There does not seem to be a clear-cut plan to simply move the money they need to move. The special session seems to be one where they are going to open debate on the number and the need instead of simply the mechanics of filling the hole.

That debate is never closed easily once opened, especially within five months of an election. Stay tuned as this will be worth watching.