Bernhard resigns from Gaming Commission

Pete Bernhard has announced he will resign as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission effective June 30.

Gov. Brian Sandoval said in a statement commissioner Tony Alamo will move up to the chairman’s spot. He named former Southern Nevada Water Authority director Pat Mulroy to fill Alamo’s seat on the five-member panel that oversees gaming in Nevada.

Bernhard’s resignation comes a month after he sharply criticized Stations Casinos in Southern Nevada for what he described as “a very effective campaign” to hike the taxes on non-traditional gambling houses such as Dotty’s.

He said during a legislative hearing he was concerned Stations was attempting to buy Dotty’s at the same time the corporation was pushing for regulations he said would “devalue” Dotty’s.

The battle centers on the existing statute that mandates gaming be incidental to the business of places such as Dotty’s, not their primary source of revenue. Major resorts pushed during the last Legislature to make those businesses pay the gross gaming tax resorts pay instead of the lesser per slot machine quarterly fee.

Sandoval said Bernhard served the commission “with great distinction for over 12 years and his unmatched knowledge and expertise will be sorely missed.”

Bernhard said in that same statement he decided several months ago not to seek reappointment to the commission. He said he was pleased Sandoval named Alamo chairman of the panel and Mulroy as a new commissioner.

Alamo has been a member of the commission since May, 2008.

The other members are Joseph Brown, John Moran and former state Sen. Randolph Townsend.