The Small Business Administration now says small Nevada gaming businesses are eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program. 

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) both announced the change on Friday. 

In response, Governor Steve Sisolak tweeted, "This is a great step forward for our gaming small businesses. I am proud that the Nevada delegation worked hard to secure this aid for our Silver State!"

Previously, small gaming businesses were not included in the CARES Act. 

The rule had denied PPP loans to small casinos and other businesses with fewer than 500 employees that made more of a third of their revenue from gambling.

When asked about the original exclusion, President Trump said on April 8th, "I'll look into it" during a press briefing earlier this month. “It’s (Nevada) a great state. They do a great job, so I’m going to look at it very strongly. I understand what they mean.”

Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District released the following statement:

“I promised Nevadans that we would get this fixed and today we made good on that promise,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1). “The Trump Administration’s attempt to prevent small gaming businesses from accessing grants and loans was foolish from the start. The people who work at these small businesses can finally get some relief.”

Congresswoman Titus first wrote to the Small Business Administration on March 27, 2020 that, “Like any other small business, small gaming and betting establishments are in desperate need of assistance in order to rebound from this crisis.” In the weeks since, she continued to pressure the Trump Administration to reverse its decision, including by introducing the Equal Access to COVID-19 Relief Act.

American Gaming Association President and CEO Bill Miller released the following statement on the updated regulations:

“In the nearly one month since the CARES Act was enacted to provide economic relief to blunt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Gaming Association and our allies have fought tirelessly to correct the Small Business Administration’s antiquated policy that precluded gaming companies from qualifying for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. We are pleased that the new regulatory guidelines released today make small gaming companies eligible for this critical program just as Congress has replenished its funding.

“I’m grateful to President Trump and his administration for recognizing that commercial and tribal gaming industry employees deserve the same support available to other small businesses, and for the significant, sustained efforts of members of Congress to amplify the need for changes to the guidelines to get small gaming operators and their employees through this challenging time.”

As of April 17th, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved:

• 8,674 PPP loans in Nevada totaling $2,013,939,889 in assistance.

As of April 20th, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has processed:

• 8,157 EIDL advances in Nevada totaling $33,415,000 in assistance, which do not have to be paid back; and

• 545 EIDL loans in Nevada totaling $118,171,500 in assistance, which must be paid back.

Between both assistance programs, small businesses in the State have received $2.16 billion of immediate, direct cash assistance.