Nevada casinos applauded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) .9 million funding to improve security on the Las Vegas Strip.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) worked with federal, state, and local lawmakers to educate DHS about the unique security risks Las Vegas faces and outlined those risks to obtain security funding through DHS’s Urban Area Security Initiative.
“Federal security funding plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of Nevadans and the more than 40 million people who visit Las Vegas each year,” AGA Senior Vice President Sara Rayme said.
“We’re grateful to the Nevada congressional delegation, Governor Sandoval and Mayor Goodman for their strong efforts to ensure Las Vegas received this funding. We appreciate FEMA’s recognition of the unique characteristics that merit Las Vegas receiving these crucial resources.”
In the letter to DHS officials, AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman emphasized the importance of educating Homeland Security about why Las Vegas requires further security funding through the program.
Among reasons outlined include the Nevada and U.S. economies relying on gaming in Las Vegas to generate revenues, more than 42 million people visited Las Vegas in 2015, the city has more hotel rooms and conventions than any other U.S. city, and the city frequently hosts well-attended, high-profile events.
