Nevada’s SB 256 Poised to Crush Illegal Gambling with Tough New Rules

A Strike Against Illegal Gambling

Nevada’s gearing up to slam the door on illegal gambling with Senate Bill 256 (SB 256), a powerhouse measure sponsored by Sen. Rochelle Nguyen that’s one step from becoming law.

Introduced in February 2025, the bill targets unlicensed operators, both land-based and online, by boosting penalties, seizing profits, and chasing down offshore platforms that take bets from Nevadans.

SB 256 is a full-court press against illegal gambling. The bill lets Nevada prosecute unlicensed operators anywhere, as long as they accept bets from state residents, a game-changer for tackling offshore sites.

It mandates that convicted operators forfeit all profits, funneled straight to Nevada’s State General Fund, stripping away their cash incentives. Penalties are also getting a serious glow-up: some offenses jump from misdemeanors to felonies, carrying up to 10 years in prison, while out-of-state violations shift to gross misdemeanors with doubled fines up to $2,000.

Legislative Journey So Far

SB 256’s been on a tear through Nevada’s legislature. It breezed through the Senate in April with a unanimous 20-0 vote, no amendments needed. Six weeks later, the Assembly matched that energy, passing it 42-0 in May, but with a minor tweak, adding Assemblymember Brittney Miller as a joint sponsor.

That change sent the bill back to the Senate for final concurrence, a formality given the tweak’s lack of controversy. Once the Senate gives its nod, SB 256 heads to Governor Joe Lombardo’s desk for a signature, poised to become law.

The bill’s broad support from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, and Nevada Resort Association fuels its momentum.