Gaming commission approves sale of Carson Station

The Nevada Gaming Commission Thursday approved the sale of Carson Station to 777 Gaming of Las Vegas.

Clark Russell, built the hotel/casino on Carson Street and has operated it since 1987.

Rory Bedore of 777 Gaming said he and his executive staff have made a number of recommendations to update and improve Carson Station, many of which the Russell family has already begun to implement. He said plans are to remodel the entire casino. He said the hotel's rooms are already being remodeled with new beds and soft goods as well as amenities such as flat-screen TVs.

"We're in the process of making the whole property more modern," Bedore told the commission.

Bedore said when his team started monitoring the operation earlier this year, it was "in a substantial loss position."

"Now I can tell you it's on the positive side," he said.

He said Carson City is "a very competitive market."

"We feel like we can carve out some space for ourselves," Bedore said.

Jennifer Russell, Clark Russell's daughter, is interim manager of the property. She will remain as human resources director and head of marketing.

She said the existing employees are excited about the sale and that almost all of them will remain with the new management.

Bedore told the Gaming Control Board during hearings on the sale they plan to market the hotel/casino in the Midwest and other places to people not as comfortable going to Las Vegas.

He said he became interested in buying Carson Station when Russell, a friend, told him he wanted to retire.

Russell, son of former Gov. Charles Russell, has had a Nevada gaming license since the 1970s when he managed the Ormsby House for ex-governor and U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt.

The vote to approve the sale was unanimous.