Las Vegas Receives Approval For DHS Funding Of $2.9 Million

The city of Las Vegas will now be eligible to receive $2.9 million as security funding from the federal government. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its decision after it determined that the city faced unique risks and it was essential to protect the state’s $53 billion gaming industry which provided employment for over 430,000 residents.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) wrote a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson in January to describe the risks faced by Las Vegas and to make the case for it to receive significant funding for its security through DHS’s Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).

The AGA had collaborated with the City of Las Vegas, the Nevada congressional delegation and the State officials to brief the DHS on the security threats to Las Vegas.

In a statement, Sara Rayme, senior vice president of public affairs for the AGA said,

Federal security funding plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of Nevadans and the more than 40 million people who visit Las Vegas each year. We’re grateful to the Nevada congressional delegation, Governor Sandoval and Mayor Goodman for their strong efforts to ensure Las Vegas received this funding. We appreciate FEMA’s [Federal Emergency Management Agency] recognition of the unique characteristics that merit Las Vegas receiving these crucial resources.

The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), provide funding to any U.S area which includes states, territories, urban areas and even local communities to help protect itself against a potential terrorist attack.

In the letter sent to DHS, AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman listed out all the key reasons that made it important for the city of Las Vegas to receive this federal funding. The letter highlighted the importance of the gaming industry to both the Nevada and U.S. economies, saying that the industry contributes $240 billion towards the nation’s GDP, tax revenues to the extent of $38 billion and supports 1.7 million U.S. jobs. We also reported last month Technavio conducted research which showed the U.S. Casino Market Estimated To Be Worth $93 billion by 2020.

Freeman emphasised the fact that Las Vegas was a major tourist hub welcoming more than 40 million tourists in 2015. He also pointed out that Las Vegas frequently hosts high-profile special events, which are increasingly being referred to in publications of known terrorist organizations as soft targets. The city will be the venue for the final U.S presidential debate, a few weeks before the presidential elections take place this year.

Additionally Freeman observed that the Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin had acknowledged the threat to Las Vegas in a cybersecurity conference when he said that the entertainment industry is now a subject of national security threats.

Adrian Sterne

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