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In business development county commissioners vote to allow rhodes land swap By Conor Shine staff writer Jim Rhodes' controversial proposed residential development was back before the Clark County Commission last month. But unlike previous heated meetings about his plan to build thousands of homes near Red Rock National Conservation Area, this meeting brought widespread agreement from commissioners, conservationists and the developer. The issue: Commissioners voted whether to support efforts by Rhodes to swap his 2,658 acres near Red Rock with an equitable amount of federal land in a different area. The vote: Approved 6-1, with Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani opposed What it means: Rhodes can move forward with negotiations with the federal Bureau of Land Management and begin looking for plots of land suitable for a swap. "This is an opportunity to work collaboratively with the community and the commission to develop a long-range vision for how this property is going to be used in the future," said Ron Krater, who has been doing land planning for the project. "We're always open to those options. We're always open to dialogue." The proposed development for Gyp- sum Mine on Blue Diamond Hills has been a source of controversy since Rhodes introduced it years ago. Opponents worry the development would ruin the pristine beauty of the area "A developer purchased property they knew they could never build on ... and then used our process now to try and get public land in a much better place," Giunchigliani said. "I think that was the agenda all along." gaming business looking up despite $1.2 billion loss for casinos By Cy Ryan staff writer For the fourth consecutive year, Nevada's major casinos posted a net loss — $1.2 billion in fiscal 2012. But business is looking up, state gaming officials said. The state Gaming Control Board last month issued its annual "Gaming Abstract" showing the 2012 loss down from $3.9 billion in fiscal 2011. The loss was $3.4 billion in 2010 and $6.7 billion in 2009. "It's getting better," said Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the board. Revenue collected by the 265 Nevada casinos that grossed $1 million or more reached $22.9 billion, up from $22 billion in 2011, with 44 percent coming from gaming, down from 46 percent in 2011. Lawton noted that many states have casinos, and many people come to Nevada for other attractions. "The customer's wallet has been divided in different ways and spread in other ways," he said. Revenue from rooms was up 8.7 percent; food increased 6.3 percent; and beverages grew 8.7 percent. The average The 12th Annual Nevada Business Hall of Fame T h e 12 t h A n n u a l N e v a d a B u s i n e s s H a l l o f F a m e 2013 Inductees daily room rate on the Strip was $131, compared with $128 in 2011, with an occupancy rate of 90.4 percent. The net loss in 2012 for casinos on the Strip was $1.7 billion, down from $2.2 billion in fiscal 2011. Downtown casinos had a net loss of $46.1 million, down from a $56.1 million loss the previous year. Dinner & Induction Ceremony Thursday, February 7, 2013 Join us as we honor these individuals who have helped chart the course for a for a prosperous and progressive Nevada. presented by UNLV Lee Business School Deloitte & Touche USA LLP production sponsor Meadows Bank leadership sponsors Selma Bartlett Howard Hughes Corp/Summerlin Bank of Nevada Bank of America Thursday, February 7, 2013 6 p.m. Cocktail Reception 7 p.m. Dinner and Hall of Fame Induction $275 per person or $2,500 per table Larry Ruvo Sponsored by Founders' Award LEE BUSINESS SCHOOL 12 20130204_VI12_F.indd 12 Steve Comer Dr. Richard Flaherty Bellagio Hotel & Casino Grand Ballroom 7 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South To register, please visit netcommunity.unlv.edu/NevadaBusinessHallofFame or contact Anna Drury at Anna.drury@unlv.edu or 702.895.3608 | 4 FEBRUARY 2013 | 1/31/13 3:05:40 PM