Another prospect considering casino at 50 and the bypass

Another Las Vegas company is considering a deal to build a casino at the junction of the Carson City Freeway and Highway 50 East.

Golden Gaming officials said Tuesday no deal has been worked out at this point. Chief Financial Officer Rod Atamian said the company is looking into several "opportunities" in the Carson City area.

Both sides met with Carson Mayor Marv Teixeira on Tuesday to discuss the project. No details were available.

It's the third or fourth company to at least look into the idea of building a hotel-casino on the site owned RIDL, Ltd., whose principals include Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick of Gardnerville and his son, Andy.

More than a year ago, they considered a deal under which Piñon Plaza owner Clark Russell would build and operate the casino portion of the project. They were unable to work out the details.

Russell, who also owns Carson Station, is in the process of selling the Piñon Plaza.

Last year, owners of Casino Fandango looked into building on the property before deciding instead to build and expand at their current location on South Carson Street. Fandango officials too backed away, saying one problem was the lack of parking on the site.

The Hettricks said at that time they were in discussions with several Las Vegas companies.

They are also working on another project which would be built off of Deer Run Road at the eastern border of Carson City at the proposed terminus of the reconstructed V&T Railway.

Golden Gaming is Nevada's largest provider of slots and gaming devices for taverns, with 40 locations. It also operates American Indian casinos in Colorado and is Nevada's third-largest slot route operator, with some 2,500 machines in 200 locations.

In order to have unlimited gaming in Carson City, developers would have to build a hotel with at least 100 rooms. The gaming license would have to come from the Nevada Gaming Commission.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.