Nevada gambling regulators cutting with casinos down

LAS VEGAS " A rough climate for casinos in Nevada means the state Gaming Control Board is operating with less money.

The board that helps regulate the state's largest industry has cut $3.5 million from is $36.6 million budget through June, and faces cuts of 34 percent in the next two years.

Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander says the nature of the work changes when business is down, but there is still a lot to do.

To help absorb the cuts, workers replacing others who have departed are being sent to departments that generate revenues for the control board through fees. The board argues that fewer workers in these departments would mean less money for the state.

Neilander says he's running the agency as well as he can under tough circumstances.