Nevada just made it 15 times cheaper to access its exclusive gaming salons. The Nevada Gaming Commission approved the biggest rule changes in nearly 20 years this September, slashing the entry requirement from $300,000 down to only $20,000. After more than an hour of debate, commissioners voted unanimously to open these private gambling rooms to more players.

The timing makes sense, though – Nevada casinos hit a record $15.61 billion in gaming revenue in 2024, but the Las Vegas Strip actually lost ground, dropping 1% to $8.8 billion. But visitor numbers tell an even tougher story – Las Vegas saw 1.5 million fewer tourists in the first half of 2025 compared to last year. Gaming Control Board Chairman Mike Dreitzer put it bluntly: walk through any casino today and you’ll see “empty salon after empty salon.”

So, these private rooms need fresh blood, and the new rules deliver it. Back in 2001, you needed half a million dollars to get past the door – but that dropped to $300,000 in 2008. Now at $20,000, more sports stars, musicians, and executives can play without cameras in their faces.

So, the updates go beyond just the entry fee. Poker joins the game list for the first time, though players still need serious money – $10,000 minimum per person, with tables asking for at least $20,000 total to start. Senior Deputy Attorney General John Michela expects this will pull high-stakes games out of private homes and get “significant revenue for Nevada.”

But while Nevada tweaks rules to fill empty salons, the best online crypto casinos have already solved the privacy problem these rooms were built to address. Players get complete anonymity, no minimum deposits beyond a few dollars, and access from anywhere with internet. The contrast is stark – one asks for $20,000 and shows up in person, while the other welcomes anyone with crypto and a laptop. Well, the regular casinos clearly feel the pressure to compete.

Virginia Valentine, who runs the Nevada Resort Association, points out how much the competition has grown. When salons started in 2001, fewer than half of the U.S. states had any legal gambling. Now, only Utah and Hawaii don’t. Every state with casinos wants Nevada’s high-roller business, forcing Vegas to adapt or lose out.

But not everyone loves the changes – Commissioner George Markantonis warned that lower requirements could weaken casino protections and create enforcement headaches. His concerns carry weight – Wynn, MGM, and Resorts World all ate millions in fines this year for anti-money laundering failures.

The skeptics have a point about enforcement challenges, but Charlie Stone from Wynn Resorts argues that modern reality needs such changes. Everyone has a smartphone now, and celebrities need somewhere to gamble without ending up on social media.

Even in Lake Tahoe, where casinos such as Harrah’s and Golden Nugget have mountain views alongside gaming, exclusive visitors want privacy. The Tahoe casinos particularly benefit since they attract Bay Area tech executives and Hollywood types escaping Los Angeles.

The numbers suggest salons are more important for some other things – Nevada secured $85.2 billion in total tourism economic impact in 2023, with visitors spending $51.5 billion directly. Salon players spend big on rooms, restaurants, shows, and shopping. They make a huge hype when spotted at properties, even if nobody sees them actually gambling.

December 2024 showed what Nevada needs from these rooms. The state hit a monthly gaming revenue record of $1.46 billion, yet the Strip fell 2.7% that same month. Downtown Vegas, Reno, and local casinos carried the load. So, if salons can bring some new players at the $20k level, they might help the Strip reverse its slide.