The state Gaming Control Board conducted its monthly meeting today in Carson City.
The issue: Fertitta Interactive, the company that operates Ultimate Gaming, the online gaming operation in development by executives of Station Casinos, is seeking an amendment to its licensing that changes its corporate structure, including adding Fertitta Interactive Chairman Tom Breitling to the ownership.
The vote: 3-0
What it means: The board voted to recommend approval of the changes, which would give Breitling 14 percent ownership of the company and Station Casinos 57 percent, with four other entities holding minority stakes.
Breitling and business partner Tim Poster developed Travelscape.com, sold it to Expedia.com and used the profits to acquire Golden Nugget properties in Las Vegas and Laughlin.
Breitling and Poster sold the Golden Nugget in 2005.
Breitling said Fertitta Interactive plans to own and control its own technology platform for Ultimate Gaming — a branding tie-in to the Fertitta family’s ownership of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Final approval of the licensing will be considered by the Nevada Gaming Commission on April 18.
•••
The issue: A company is seeking licensing as a service provider for interactive gaming operations. Wilmington, Del.-based Securetrading would offer geolocation, patron-identification and payment-processing services for companies licensed for online gaming.
The vote: 3-0
What it means: The board recommended approval of the license, and the Nevada Gaming Commission will consider final approval on April 18.
•••
The issue: The Control Board is required to consider applications for pari-mutuel horse racing in rural Nevada.
The vote: 3-0
What it means: The board recommended approval of June 1 and June 2 race dates for the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority, Aug. 22 through Sept. 3 for the Elko County Fair Board and Aug. 16-18 for Agriculture District 13 in Ely. The recommendations will be considered by the Nevada Gaming Commission on April 18.
•••
The issue: Several companies that received interactive gaming licenses in the fall have not begun operations. Since those licenses included six-month limitations in which commission actions are effective, the board considered extending licensing another six months for five companies.
The vote: 3-0 in five separate votes.
What it means: The board recommended extensions for Fertitta Interactive, MGM Resorts Online, Z4 Poker, Golden Nugget and Boyd Interactive Gaming. The recommendations will be considered by the Nevada Gaming Commission on April 18.