Come On Boys & Gamble; Roll Those Laughing Bones - Can Gaming, Cannabis Co-Exist in NV?

Forbes

30-06-2025

From legalizing medical cannabis sales in 2013 to recently opening cannabis consumption lounges, Nevada has been an early adopter of cannabis regulation. As a national and international leader in gaming, Nevada may be uniquely situated to lead the charge in integrating these two commercial activities.
August 24, 2024 - UNLV's Cannabis Policy Institute and the UNLV International Gaming Institute ... More recently held a panel on federal regulations, state and local laws, and interest from industry leaders in gaming and cannabis.
Although consumers may already be combining these two activities, Nevada law prohibits the integration of the business activities. Nevada prohibits gaming operators from investing in cannabis operations and requires a 1,500-foot distance separation between the brick-and-mortar operations. Also, delivery of cannabis is not allowed in the strip corridor, but can be easily obtained from illegal sources online.
Anyone who has walked the Las Vegas Strip corridor knows well that cannabis consumption is occurring. Yet as online sports betting proliferates, people can legally place bets while consuming cannabis outside casinos. These activities are already happening, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Cannabis Policy Institute has already been promoting research and policy discussions in this area.
'As policies and public opinion of cannabis have evolved to become exceedingly favorable, there is more reason now than ever to explore and plan for a future that takes advantage of Nevada's regulated tourist opportunities rather than siloing them.' Riana Durrett, Executive Director UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute.
Durrett referenced a prohibition on delivery to the strip corridor, which could promote sales from illegal delivery operations. 'National data shows that daily cannabis consumption has surpassed daily alcohol consumption. Nevada needs to provide safe and responsible ways for tourists to engage in legal activities without artificial barriers that embolden sales of illegal, untested products.' Durrett also points to a policy report published by the CPI that examines these issues.
To further investigate consumer behavior and attitudes, CPI Research Director Marla Royne Stafford led a national survey and determined that cannabis consumption may not suppress gaming activity as many may have assumed. For example, the survey of 620 people showed that only about 24 percent would gamble more if they were able to use cannabis while gambling, and about 68% of respondents reported they never use cannabis while gambling. It is important to note that people can both gamble and consume cannabis in different ways, so despite the illegal nature of cannabis use in casinos, eating other consumables in casinos is untraceable, and smoking cannabis while gambling online in one's home is hardly illegal. Still, only about eight percent of respondents reported that using cannabis or being high on cannabis makes the gambling experience less enjoyable. Yet, about 40 percent were somewhat likely or very likely to gamble at a casino if it were legal to consumer cannabis on the property. As Stafford notes, 'while our research has some interesting findings about perceptions of the simultaneous use of cannabis and gaming, there is still more work we want to do at the CPI to better understand this relationship…'
With recent declining visitor rates and increasing gaming competition, Nevada may benefit from providing new hospitality experiences. The Cannabis Policy Institute recently co-hosted a panel discussion with the UNLV International Gaming Institute when casino operator Seth Schorr stated that 'Visitation is down in Las Vegas. There's a million reasons that we need every tool in the toolbox as a city to drive visitation,' citing competition from online betting and other gaming destinations.
A decade after advising gaming licensees that they could not engage in the cannabis market, former Nevada Gaming Control Board member Terry Johnson took a fresh look at the separation between gaming and cannabis in the state. During the recent UNLV panel, Johnson said, 'I think this is a good time to see what additional tools might be at the disposal of our tourism officials, gaming officials, and cannabis persons.'...'I don't think people are gonna stop coming to Nevada because a conversation like that takes place.'