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State of Play’s TL;DR
- Las Vegas casino executives and state lawmakers are renewing calls to let resorts offer regulated cannabis access as a way to lure visitors back.
- This push, voiced at a UNLV panel, frames cannabis as another guest amenity that could help reverse recent visitation declines and broaden tourist appeal.
At UNLV’s Gaming & Cannabis Policy Discussion, Fifth Street Gaming CEO Seth Schorr reiterated his call to allow a partnership between casinos and the cannabis industry – including lounges and in-hotel delivery – arguing such moves would help Las Vegas compete amid falling visitation.
Schorr referenced research by Robin Goldstein showing that visitors’ inability to access cannabis on-property hurts tourism and said the industry needs “all the tools we can get.”
The panel included state Sen. Rochelle Nguyen, Assemblyman Max Carter, and UNLV’s Alan Feldman.
Nguyen warned consumers are being pushed into unregulated markets and urged regulatory reform. Carter has proposed limited delivery changes for Strip businesses but highlighted casino concerns about federal banking oversight. Panelists agreed changes would require clear Gaming Control Board rules and legislative coordination.
Options could include smoke rooms, THC beverages
Legalized on-property cannabis could change the visitor experience – from new lounge atmospheres to THC beverage options alongside traditional alcohol.
Operators see potential to attract non-carded tourists who’ve dropped off in recent years, though adoption will vary by brand: Some casinos would stay conservative, others might pivot to cannabis-first concepts.
Practical constraints matter: hotels control room access and many operators resist independent delivery personnel entering rooms, while casinos worry that federal banking and audit rules could complicate accepting cannabis-related revenue.
Regulated access promises added tax revenue and channels away from black markets, but any rollout would need tight internal controls, clear Gaming Control Board guidance, and banking-workarounds to avoid federal exposure.
Based on reporting by Buck Wargo for CDC Gaming.
