Board votes to grant license to casino host

LAS VEGAS SUN
The Nevada Gaming Control Board recently recommended approval of a conditional license for a controversial Green Valley Ranch casino host and former Youngstown resident who is a character in Discovery Channel's "American Casino" television show.
Board members voted 2-1 to grant a limited two-year license to Patrick Traficant, the executive casino host for the Henderson property.
Green Valley Ranch, part of the Station Casinos Inc. chain, is half owned by the Greenspun family, which also owns the Las Vegas Sun.
Board members spent 11/2 hours grilling Traficant, who was arrested on illegal gambling charges in Ohio in the 1970s and who, according to a gaming control board member, reportedly has associations with organized crime figures in the Youngstown area.
Board member Bobby Siller, who cast the lone vote against licensure, said he could be forgiving about Traficant's scrapes with the law more than 25 years ago. But he was concerned that Traficant maintained contacts with old friends from his past in Youngstown and that he invited some of those associates to Green Valley Ranch as recently as last year.
The board's recommendation will go to the Nevada Gaming Commission for consideration later this month.