Even though the casino shut its doors in early April, the Tropicana gaming license is still valid. And in a move that may not seem to make sense on its surface, the owners of the property have asked for that license to be extended, even without a casino. Now, Clark County Commissioners have unanimously agreed to that extension, giving the license several additional years.
Bally Corporation now owns the land where the soon to be imploded remains of the Tropicana Las Vegas sit. And according to Nevada Gaming Attorney Dennis Gutwald, the extension allows Bally’s to defer the expiration of their gaming license for up to three years from the closure date of the Tropicana on April 2.
“When gaming activities resume, the license will become active again,” Gutwald explained, adding that Bally’s could operate gaming on the site for just one day to keep the Tropicana gaming license active. The company could even bring in a temporary trailer, equipped with anywhere from one to sixteen slot machines, which would qualify as utilizing the license and enable them to seek further extensions.
This is important, because there is much more that’s associated with such a license. “There’s a multitude of permits required—building permits, health permits, and various approvals,” Gutwald added. However, the recent decision by the Clark County Commissioners to extend the Tropicana gaming license grants Bally Corporation significant flexibility in managing their license amidst their development plans.