The Reno City Council has voted to allow Las Vegas-based Station Casinos to move forward with development of a non-hotel casino near the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
The approval came in the form of a 5-2 vote to reject an appeal by Monarch Casino and Resort of a Planning Commission decision to approve the facility. Monarch argued that the absence of a hotel at the proposed 84,000-square-foot facility gives Station an unfair competitive advantage over the company’s nearby Atlantis Casino Resort Spa. The company contended the approval goes against the city’s master plan, which typically requires hotel rooms for new gaming developments, especially given the project’s proximity to the convention center.
“It’s just a bunch of slot machine tables,” Monarch CEO John Farahi told the Reno Gazette-Journal. “It doesn’t make the pie larger by bringing in more tourists to the community.”
Scott Nielson, chief development officer for Station, said he was “excited” about the council’s endorsement.
“We’re excited about coming to the Reno market. We like this location because of its proximity to the convention center and also the other retail surrounding it. We think it’s a good commercial corridor.”
In addition to gaming the facility will feature outdoor dining, a movie theater, a bowling alley and a sports book.
