Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Restricted Licenses topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves Cantina by El Dorado restricted gaming license; owners to keep restaurant separate from neighboring dispensary
Summary
The commission approved a restricted gaming license for Cantina by El Dorado after staff confirmed there was no financial commingling with an adjacent cannabis dispensary and reviewed controls to prevent cannabis consumption on the licensed premises.
The Nevada Gaming Commission on July 24 approved a restricted gaming license for Cantina by El Dorado following staff investigation and disclosure of a landlord connection to a nearby cannabis dispensary.
Counsel and applicants told the commission the licensed business would be a bar and restaurant and that there are no shared bank accounts or revenue flows between the restaurant and the dispensary. Counsel said one partner in the landlord entity has a minority interest in the publicly traded company that owns the dispensary, but that the landlord entity itself does not own the dispensary. Regulators said there was no percentage rent or other arrangement that would result in marijuana‑related proceeds flowing to the gaming licensee.
Why it matters: Nevada authorities treat financial commingling with cannabis proceeds carefully because marijuana remains a violation of federal law; regulators examine whether funds from federally unlawful activities could reach a gaming licensee. In this case, the board’s investigation found no transfer of dispensary proceeds to the gaming operator and the application was approved with conditions as noted on the agenda.
Operational and compliance points: - The applicants and counsel described a lease formula that prorates utility costs based on historical usage and square footage; the control board reviewed these allocation details. - Board staff and counsel discussed employee training and door signage to prevent on‑site consumption of cannabis in the restaurant space and said staff would train employees to ask patrons to secure cannabis products in their vehicles.
Vote: A motion to approve the restricted license, as recommended by Gaming Control Board staff, passed without recorded opposition.
Ending: The applicants were told they could proceed with licensing compliance tasks and that the board’s agents had completed the investigation. The applicants said the restaurant was expected to open in the near term.
