Lower Gambling Age
Last month Nevada State Assemblyman Jim Wheeler introduced legislation based on a rather apt philosophical argument. He argued that if men and women are of age to fight and die for their country, they should be able to go out and have a little fun on the tables in Vegas.
Lower Gambling Age To 18 You also get to deposit and withdraw using a wide range of banking options available to Aussie players and operating in Australian Dollars. Their 100% Welcome Bonus up to $200 applies to your Lower Gambling Age To 18 first 5 deposits, adding up to a total of $1000. Wheeler’s proposed legislation seeks to lower Nevada’s gambling age from 21 to 18. However, officials don’t seem to share his views and are standing firm in maintaining the status-quo of Vegas gambling age restrictions. In a recent meeting between officials, one gambling regulator was quoted to have uttered the phrase, “dead on arrival.”.
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Wheeler’s proposed legislation seeks to lower Nevada’s gambling age from 21 to 18. However, officials don’t seem to share his views and are standing firm in maintaining the status-quo of Vegas gambling age restrictions.
In a recent meeting between officials, one gambling regulator was quoted to have uttered the phrase, “dead on arrival.” One that no lawmaker wants to hear in connection with their proposed legislation. Regulators see this bill being passed as more trouble than it’s worth to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.
Granted, the lowering of the gambling age would increase tax revenues for the state derived from gaming activity, but as Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Tony Alamo put it, “The industry has not come to us with any wants for dropping this,” adding, “Everyone’s happy with 21 years of age.”
President of the Nevada Resorts Association, Virginia Valentine also contributed during an interview, “We’ve never supported it in the past. There’s really no compelling reason to change that position.”
What officials do want to emphasize is that the proposed bill would in fact create a problem for operators if the gambling age is lowered to 18. That is in conjunction with the practice of alcoholic beverages being served in casinos. If 18 year old men and women are able to begin gambling, how then do casinos get a handle on the use of alcohol in their establishments? To get police patrons to check IDs at every slot and table seat would be no small task, not to mention a nuisance to players.
Officials also point to the fact that Vegas is no longer the only state with legalized gambling. In other locations the legal age would remain 21. This of doesn’t take into account several exceptions where gambling within certain tribal lands, in places like Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota and Wyoming, the legal gambling age is 18. There are also pari-mutual betting practices open to those 18 and up in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington. Bingo can be played by those 18 and up in Connecticut, Florida, New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin and at tribal casinos in South Dakota. Even more confusing is that the legal gambling age is 18 or 21, depending on the casino, in California, New York and Oklahoma.
It seems pretty clear there is already a quagmire of gaming rules throughout the country depending on the games being played. What many officials in Nevada are now asking is: Would lowering the age draw that many more gambling patrons? The consensus is no. Another point brought up is how much are these younger patrons actually expected to spend with their new found gaming freedom. Most don’t think it’s enough to justify the investment in time and money to get the laws changed.
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Assembly Bill No. 86
Wheeler’s proposal, Assembly Bill No. 86, also would ban people under 21 from consuming alcohol while in a Nevada casino. This is the first time the state legislature has considered lowering the legal drinking age since 2008, but that bill failed to pass.
The bill was introduced along with 200 others to the two houses of the Nevada legislature on the first day of the legislative session. Given the large number of proposals to consider, AB 86 might languish for a time in committee. In the General Assembly, Democrats hold a 27-15 advantage, so a Republican-framed bill is unlikely to receive an early hearing.
Lowered Gaming Revenues
Assemblyman Wheeler’s bill is designed to increase gaming revenues in the state. In 2016, Nevada casinos generated $11.26 billion, which was an increase of 1.3%. Such increases are considered minimal, becuase population increases account for much of that growth. Given the relatively stagnant growth over the past several years, lamwakers and executives are searching for ways to increase play in casinos.
Opening casinos to players aged 18, 19, and 20 is Jim Wheeler’s answer. Those concerned about the societal impact of youth gambling are concerned such gambling would be a doorway to a lifetime of gambling, though proponents likely see that as a good thing. Social critics, gaming researchers, and problem gambling counselors have warned in the past few years that underage social casino gaming lead to gambling habits when those youths become adults.
Debt among College Students
Opponents of AB 86 warn that such a bill could prey on those least-prepared for such gaming. “The College Investor”, a website which covers college-age economics, said that an 18-year old has a negative $9,000 income. That number gets lower until the age of 21, when it becomes a positive figure.
Since college-age Americans are, on average, running up debts, the idea that Nevada would allow such people to gamble is considered dangerous by opponents of Jim Wheeler’s bill.
To lessen the impact of the bill, Jim Wheeler included a provision which would increase the age of alcohol consumption in Nevada casinos to 21. The provision likely was added to make the bill more palatable to potential detractors. Those under-21 players would not be impaired by alcohol when gambling in Nevada casinos.
Arguments for Under-21 Gambling
Bills that limit people under the age of 21 from gambling or drinking alcohol always meet with some derision. The common refrain is the US government believes people 18-20 can be sent away to foreign wars with life-or-death decisions are sometimes required, but those same people cannot be trusted to make decisions about drinking alcohol or gambling their own money.
Science backs up the notion that the human brain is not fully developed until 25. Thus, proponents of such laws argue that people in a tenuous economic state with inhibition problems are at risk of financial ruin when given a chance to gamble for real money. A certain amount of inconsistency or even hypocrisy is certain, unless a single age is chosen for all activities. Given the unlikelihood of such a one-size-fits-all age, lobbyists, lawyers, and legislators are likely to have plenty to discuss for the foreseeable future.
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Jim Wheeler’s Conversation with A.G. Burnett
Jim Wheeler announced his support for Assembly Bill No. 86 with a lighthearted joke. After Nevada Gaming Control Board chairman A.G. Burnett gave a speech before the Assembly Judiciary Committee and Assembly Committee on Corrections, Parole, and Probation, Assemblyman Wheeler asked an obvious question.
Wheeler asked Chairman Burnett, “What’s the legal age for gaming in Nevada,” which is considered an obvious question in a casino-filled state like Nevada.
After the chuckles died down, Jim Wheeler noted that he was joking. With that introduction, the assemblyman noted he would be sponsoring a bill to lower the age of gambling in Nevada.
