Poker Writer
Nevada and gambling go together like peanut butter and jelly, as the state has had a long history with gambling and is the US state most synonymous with it. Gambling in Nevada has experienced a surge recently, with March 2025 gambling revenue totaling an eye-watering $1.29 billion.
Unfortunately, illegal gambling rings are still very active and Nevada is doing their best to combat that.
There are numerous legal gambling options within the state, ranging from online poker in Nevada to the over 300 casinos, where individuals can play various casino games, including Caribbean Stud poker, 3-card poker, and more. Despite this, there are still plenty of operators who wish to bring gambling to the Battle Born State through illegal means. The recent surge in unlawful poker operators in the state prompted the Nevada State Senate to take action.
A definitive 42-0 vote from the state senate approved Senate Bill 256. This bill will strengthen Nevada’s powers to prosecute operators of unauthorized online casinos as well as any illegal in-person gambling facilities. The bill also imposes a more severe penalty for those illegal operators than the current penalty of a $50,000 fine.
Senate Bill 256 further details:
- Allowing Nevada to prosecute unlicensed operators even if they are out of state, as long as they accept bets from people in Nevada
- Forcing illegal gamblers to forfeit all earnings back to the state, which would redirect it to its general fund
- Upgrading some gambling offenses from misdemeanors to felonies, carrying up to 10 years in prison
- Significantly stiffening penalties for running illegal offshore gambling sites, including (though not explicitly stated) so-called “sweepstakes casinos”
According to the author of the bill’s intern, Janice Wong, the need for the bill is very high currently, as she went on to say:
“With the rise of online gaming apps, we’ve seen an increasing number of unlicensed platforms operating in the shadows accepting illegal wagers, engaging in fraudulent practices, and profiting outside the bounds of our regulatory framework, these bad actors not only undermine our legal gaming industry but also put our consumers at risk.”
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo must sign the bill once it gets to his desk in order for it to become law. But before that, the bill must go back to the State Senate for concurrence.
