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GAMING REGULATORS





Pete Bernhard 

Nevada Gaming Commission chairman, Oct. 1, 2001-present. Term ends April 27. 

Bernhard, a former chairman of the state Ethics Commission, was appointed last fall by Gov. Kenny Guinn to replace Brian Sandoval, who resigned to run for attorney general. A soft-spoken man who runs the five-member panel's meetings with calm authority, Bernhard said last week that Internet gaming has been the toughest issue he's faced during his first 10 months on the job. "It's likely to continue to be our most difficult issue," Bernhard said. "The biggest difficulty is the changing nature of technology. It's hard to evaluate technology today when it may be obsolete tomorrow." 


Brian Sandoval 

Nevada Gaming Commission chairman, April 28, 1999-Aug. 1, 2001; commission member, April 28-1998-April 27, 1999. 

Sandoval was appointed to the commission by then-Gov. Bob Miller. The Republican Reno resident resigned as commission chairman to begin planning his run for attorney general. He's expected to face off against Democratic candidate John Hunt in November's general election. Sandoval was considered a workhorse by fellow commission members and industry insiders, taking the point on the state's response to a proposed college sports betting ban and on preparations to regulate Internet gaming. Sandoval said recently that he was proud of the commission's accomplishments during his term, particularly the package of rules tightening sports betting regulations, limiting neighborhood casinos and limiting slot machine themes attractive to children."I think it was a really productive 3 1/2 years," Sandoval said. 


Dennis Neilander 

Nevada Gaming Control Board chairman, Jan. 1, 2001-present; control board member, Sept. 19, 1998-Dec. 31, 2000. Term ends Dec. 31. 

Neilander was appointed to the control board by then-Gov. Bob Miller and appointed chairman by Gov. Kenny Guinn. Neilander, a lawyer and former Nevada legislative staff member, served as chief of the control board's corporate securities division before his board appointment. The division regulates publicly traded companies involved in the state's gambling industry. Neilander served on the board with respected chairmen Bill Bible and Steve DuCharme. Neilander is considered to be a consensus builder, and his calm, low-key approach earns praise from casino industry bosses and lawyers. Neilander said last week that regulators' biggest challenge is keeping up with the pace of technology. "The biggest change in the application of our resources has been in the area of technology," Neilander said, citing Internet gaming, cashless slot machines and the use of computers as an investigative tool as three areas where regulators have had to adjust to evolving technology. 


Steve DuCharme 

Nevada Gaming Control Board chairman, Sept. 19, 1998-Dec. 31, 2000; control board member, Jan. 3, 1991-Sept. 18, 1998. 

Then-Gov. Bob Miller appointed DuCharme to chair the three-member panel responsible for policing and collecting taxes from the casino industry. A former Metropolitan Police Department officer, DuCharme conducted control board meetings with a firm hand and a sharp wit. DuCharme said last week that Nevada regulators have a much tougher job than those in other states where gambling revenue isn't as important to the state budget. "Some states have the luxury of having casinos be a tiny cog in their state," DuCharme said. "We can't regulate these guys out of business, but on the flip side, we have to protect the integrity of the state." 


Bobby Siller 

Gaming Control Board member, Jan. 1, 1999-present. Term ends Dec. 31. 

A former FBI special agent, Siller oversees the control board's enforcement division and is the regulator who has done the most to minimize the influence of gambling on children. 


Scott Scherer 

Gaming Control Board member, Jan. 1, 2001-present. Term ends Dec. 31, 2004. 

Formerly Gov. Kenny Guinn's chief of staff and a state assemblyman, Scherer oversees the control board's electronic services division and has taken an interest in protecting gaming consumers and in Internet gaming. 


Sue Wagner 

Nevada Gaming Commission member, April 28, 1997-present. Term ends April 27, 2005 

A former state lieutenant governor and legislator, Wagner is a tough, no-nonsense questioner and an advocate for Northern Nevada interests on the five-member panel. 


Radha Chanderraj 

Nevada Gaming Commission member, Aug. 31, 1999-present. Term ends April 27, 2006. 

An accountant, Chanderraj is usually the quietest commission member during public meetings. She pays particularly close attention to license applicants' financial irregularities. 


Augie Gurrola 

Nevada Gaming Commission member, April 28, 1992-present. Term ends April 27, 2004. 

The longest-serving member of the commission, Gurrola is an advocate of the working man, particularly casino work-card holders. 


Art Marshall 

Nevada Gaming Commission member, April 28, 1997-present. Term ends Apr. 27, 2005. 

The founder of a chain of casino resort fashion stores, regulatory insiders consider Marshall the conscience of the commission, along with the chairman the member most likely to sway other members' votes.