Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve (left) and Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley (right) both have officially proclaimed May 15 as International Casinos Day. (Photos: Cities of Reno, Las Vegas)
The mayors of Nevada’s two largest cities have officially declared May 15 International Casinos Day, lending government imprimatur to a holiday admittedly created by us here at Casinos.com.
This week, Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve added her support to the growing International Casinos Day movement.
“International Casinos Day has grown into a globally recognized observance,” Schieve wrote in her proclamation, “with cities, industry leaders, and casino enthusiasts around the world joining together to celebrate the industry’s enduring contributions to culture, tourism, and economic vitality.”
Nevada's gaming industry supports more than 436,000 jobs and generates over $24 billion in wages and salaries statewide, making it the state’s largest economic sector, Schieve’s proclamation noted.
Reno's hotels and casinos attract more than 5 million visitors annually and contribute over $4 billion to the local economy each year.
"I encourage residents to recognize and appreciate the vital role casinos play in our economy and community," Schieve has proclaimed.
Schieve follows Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley in declaring her support for International Casinos Day.
The Las Vegas declaration calls this May 15 the "2nd Annual International Casinos Day" – acknowledging the city’s long history celebrating the holiday.
Last year, Berkley declared that May 15 – which also happens to be Las Vegas’ birthday – should serve as a day to recognize the cultural and economic impact casinos have on communities around the world.
While similar in tone and language to last year’s proclamation, this year’s certificate from Berkley also applauded the significance of the International Casino Awards, which is one of the ways Casinos.com marks the occasion each year.
The International Casino Awards, she said, highlight “excellence in hospitality and entertainment while celebrating the industry's ability to bring people together."
We agree.
Public voting for the International Casino Awards remains open through Friday, May 15 – a date we’re delighted to hear more people referring to as International Casinos Day.
Dan Michalski is a longtime journalist based in Las Vegas with nearly 20 years as a writer and editor covering poker, casino gaming and sports betting. As founder of Pokerati and an award-winning blogger, podcaster and news reporter, Dan has worked tirelessly to elevate the standards of journalism in gaming media. He also has served as a gaming industry consultant and holds advanced certificates in gaming regulation from UNLV. When not thinking about media and casinos, he can be found on the tennis courts, where he has captained two teams to USTA national championships, and one to second place.
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