Kirk Hendrick, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, told the Assembly Judiciary Committee in a hybrid hearing that the board is proposing statutory changes in Assembly Bill 58 to speed regulatory approval of gaming technology and simplify registration requirements. The presentation and bill hearing were held in Carson City with staff and witnesses also appearing from Las Vegas.

The bill would amend provisions in Nevada Revised Statutes chapters 463 and 465 to allow administrative approval by the board chair — rather than requiring a separate board recommendation and Nevada Gaming Commission agenda item — for some new games and gaming devices that have already completed independent testing and internal review. "Administrative approval would allow for a new game or gaming device to be offered to the public for play faster without compromising the game's integrity," Hendrick said. He noted that board review currently adds roughly 50–60 days to approvals and that most new games and devices already pass laboratory and field testing before commission consideration.

The bill also proposes removing the separate statutory registration for some cash access and ticket-in/ticket-out devices because those entities already register as associated-equipment manufacturers, and eliminating duplicative statutory terms such as "system-based" and "system-supported" games. Sebastian Ross, senior policy counsel for the board, said the changes "would rid the industry of an unnecessary gaming registration" for devices that carry minimal additional regulatory risk once tested and approved.

During Q&A, technology division chief Jim Barbee explained that manufacturers of ticket-in/ticket-out hardware would still register as associated-equipment manufacturers, that registrations are handled by the investigations division and are valid for five years, and that the product-review process still requires independent test-lab verification and field testing when applicable. Virginia Valentine, president of the Nevada Resort Association, testified in support of AB58.

The board framed the bill as a narrowly tailored effort to keep Nevada competitive for new gaming innovations while preserving the multi-step safety checks that include independent testing labs, internal board review, and the commission's historic oversight. No final vote occurred at the hearing; the committee took testimony and closed the public record for the item.

AB58 will return to the committee for further consideration and any amendments identified during stakeholder discussions.