Any Rumblings about Weapon Screening in Nevada Casinos?

Illinois requires casinos to have patrons go through weapon detection devices upon entering casinos. Any rumblings about this happening in Nevada?

We looked it up.

In the Illinois Administrative Code, Section 3000.560, Patron Admissions to Gaming Facilities, of Part 3000, Riverboat and Casino Gambling, of Chapter Iv: Illinois Gaming Board, of Title 86: Revenue (phew) states, “B) At each turnstile, owner licensees must install operational magnetometers or other electronic means capable of detecting firearms or other weapons not permitted on the gaming floor; C) Each patron entering the gaming floor must pass through the magnetometer or device to ensure that the patron is not in possession of any weapon not permitted on the gaming floor."

So that's the law in Illinois as of last year, with which anyone who gambles in a brick-and-mortar casino in the Land of Lincoln is familiar.

As for Nevada, most casinos don’t permit patrons to be armed when they enter. This has been the policy for many years. Though it’s not against the law to carry in a casino, if the casino, being private property, asks you to leave and you don’t, you can be arrested for armed trespassing. The same goes for any other private property, such as those with no-gun signs on the doors.

In the past, there was little to no enforcement by the casinos. So though officially you weren't allowed, unofficially you were. And for the most part, that's still true. Right after the mass shooting here in October 2017, some casinos did use metal detectors at entrances, but that ended after a while.

Since then, we haven't heard even the slightest rumbling about weapons screening before entering a casino, anywhere in the state.

That said, weapons screening at security checkpoints is the rule now at sporting events, concert venues, and anywhere else large crowds gather in contained spaces. Casinos, of course, especially in Las Vegas and Reno where the competition is intense, want to make entering as accessible, non-intimidating, and welcoming as possible, so forcing patrons through metal detectors, pat downs, or wand waves is counterproductive to picking their pockets.

Passive weapons-screening systems, however, are readily available and we suspect that they'll begin showing up here sooner than later. These involve not only the detection technology, but intensive training in terms of the decisions concerning how to present the systems to patrons in a positive light and response protocols when someone armed attempts to enter. Those are questions for another day.

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Comments

Donzack Mar-17-2024

Honor system

The honor system isn’t very efficient since only law abiding citizens would follow the law. It used to be local law enforcement could carry in a casino but the new law changes that. That doesn’t make sense to me. Thanks

Jon Oswald Mar-17-2024

Never going back

The casino in downtown Milwaukee WI (Pot... something, I don't know how to spell it), started scanning everyone entering the building several years ago after a shooting happened in the casino. When I tried to check into the hotel after parking in the self parking ramps I was stopped and had a guard go through everything in my suitcase right in front of everyone else coming in the place. Needless to say I was not happy with this new policy, and I have not stayed there since. There are plenty of other casinos in Wisconsin where I can donate my money and not have to go through that.

O2bnVegas Mar-17-2024

Patience, Grasshopper

Right after 9/11 our airport put in several screening systems, including a bomb-sniffing dog to circle your car before you could punch the ticket machine, and a guard inspected the car trunk.  

Inside, my husband was pulled aside several times as his name is rather common, as they did some sort of double checking that he wasn't a threat.  Those added checks apparently seldom if ever came up with anything, as gradually they disappeared.  Just the usual TSA screening before entering the concourse remains.  But...we are a relatively small airport, so don't know if that makes a difference.

Candy

Kevin Rough Mar-17-2024

Concerts

I saw 3 shows in 2023.  Two of them, one in Washington, DC and one in Hamilton, Canada, had metal detectors.  The one that did not was at the Venetian.

Donzack Mar-17-2024

Jon

Potawatamie casino in Milwaukee has its problems and local police have to be invited in. They couldn’t come in on their own to do a premise check when they first opened. Indian casinos are part of their reservation. After the shooting the casino built a small cubicle/office for the Milwaukee police department. The last time I was there I saw Don Rickles perform  there while he wore a tux and had to sit on a chair on stage the year before he died. Hilarious. Even then I would stay at a Holiday Inn in New Berlin rather than a comped room at the casino. Plus the workers are negative and the cigarette smoke was overwhelming.

Bob Mar-17-2024

I'm with Donzack!

Law Enforcement Officers need to be armed anywhere they go, for Our safety and their own! I also think properly trained Casino security should Cary. Patrons... not so much!  Guns and free flowing Alcohol, NOT a good mix!

Marla Corey Mar-17-2024

Harrahs NOLA

I was happy to see that people are screened here. The ladies who were working the screening were very friendly and didn't make you feel like a criminal. Thank you Harrahs NO for your efforts to keep your casino safe .

Llew Mar-17-2024

Jon and Candy

Jon - I would much rather be inconvenienced and go through a bag check than to be caught in the crossfire of a shooter. 
Candy - my brother, who also has a very common name, traveled a lot on business. After 9/11, “his” name landed on the “No Fly” list. He had to go through extra screenings every time he flew, even after the TSA gave him a special ID card that said he was ok to fly.

Thomas Dikens Mar-17-2024

Wapons

The WSOP could use some more security. 4,000 players in one room.....

hawks242424 Mar-18-2024

Harrahs Joliet

I didn't even realize what I walked in was a metal detector. I assumed it was to count customers walking in.

Question of the Day - 17 March 2024

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