Little Casino Isn’t About to Let Big Gamer Push It Around

The Roadhouse Casino has decided to press on with its plans for reopening the casino in Henderson, despite the protest of one of its competitors.

The State of Nevada has granted the Roadhouse approval to open. The City of Henderson has said it can move forward with its plans to reopen. Only Stations Casinos has objected to the Roadhouse’s plans to re-open.

Why should one business be allowed to block one of its competitors?

Stations, whose representatives have stated publicly that competition is one of the objections to the Roadhouse’s reopening, have sued the Roadhouse and the City of Henderson claiming the Roadhouse lost its Conditional Use Permit in 2006. Loss of that permit, according to Stations, also means the Roadhouse lost the grandfathered status on the nonrestricted state gaming license it has held for nearly 20 years.

Loss of this status would require the Roadhouse to comply with current regulations if it were to reopen. These regulations mandate that businesses with nonrestricted gaming licenses must have a hotel with at least 200 rooms in addition to other requirements.

However, the City of Henderson has indicated the Roadhouse’s CUP is still valid and is fighting Stations. Once again Stations has taken it upon itself to act as policeman for the industry to the benefit of itself and the detriment of its competition.

Stations attempted to have the trial pushed back until July of next year. This could have been devastating to the Roadhouse as its state gaming license must be renewed in June and it would have to be open for at least one day prior to that renewal.

In addition, the Roadhouse’s 84-year old owner, Bob McMackin, requested an expedited trial date. State law allows such a request under certain conditions, including by someone 84 years old. The judge granted McMackin’s motion and has set the trial day for March 19, 2012.

Instead of waiting until at least March for a decision, the Roadhouse decided to move ahead with reopening. After all, even though Stations has sued to stop the reopening, the Roadhouse still has approvals from all of the state and local governments that it needs. And there is remodel and renovation work to do before it’ll be ready to open the doors again.

The Roadhouse has decided to not only stand up to the gaming behemoth trying to crush it but to push past and keep moving ahead.