Buffett Gets His Nevada Gaming License

Jimmy Buffett made his case before the Nevada Gaming Control Board two weeks ago and today he was back in Las Vegas where the Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously approved his application:

Buffett and his company needed gaming licenses because of a trademark sublicense agreement with the Flamingo that allows Palm Beach, Fla.-based Margaritaville Holdings to share in gaming revenues from the Margaritaville casino, which opened in October. The company has also operated the Margaritaville restaurant at the Flamingo since 2003.

“When I wrote the song ‘Margaritaville,’ I never envisioned it would be a successful piece of intellectual property,” Buffett told the commission. “It’s a pretty good song. It worked out.”

Commission Chairman Peter Bernhard said Buffett had been investigated just as thoroughly, if not more so, than other gaming license applicants.

“If you make a song about this experience, I hope it’s a positive one,” Gaming Commission member Tony Alamo said with a laugh.