Nevada

Inside the pickleball craze in Southern Nevada

Published

2 years ago

March 17, 2024

Inside the pickleball craze in Southern Nevada

Step inside Vegas Indoor Pickleball on any given day, and you’ll see the indoor courts packed with players rallying the yellow plastic balls back and forth. You might also catch them, sweat-soaked and beaming, high-fiving owner Nina Lemansky as they leave.

The facility, which opened last fall, is a haven for pickleball enthusiasts of all levels. Tyson McGuffin, one of the top pros in the country, has even stopped by.

As interest in pickleball exploded in the Las Vegas Valley and pickleball players wanted to compete rain or shine, an indoor court made perfect sense. Lemansky, who has sensitive skin, used heavy sunscreen when she played, which dripped into her eyes. An indoor court helps protect her skin and ensures that she and others can play without interruption from Mother Nature.

Darcy Shore, 16, plays at Vegas Indoor Pickleball. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Lemansky attributes the sport’s appeal to it being a “social unity tool” and an all-around activity for all ages and physical levels. “Some of the best pickleball players have never been athletic,” she says. “And they seem to be able to play the game well and enjoy being in a game that has a little bit of competition and a lot of socialization.” She also says it’s healthy to move the body and work on hand-eye coordination and positioning, while making friends within the pickleball community.

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island near Seattle. Today, the low-impact, easy-to-learn sport continues to surge nationally and remains the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with 48.3 million players.

Phil Wexler, 58, of Miami plays at Vegas Indoor Pickleball. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Las Vegas will host two national events this year: a USA Pickleball-connected tournament in June at the Las Vegas Convention Center and a Professional Pickleball Association event in October at the Darling Tennis Center.

Pickleball is growing so fast locally that Clark County is working hard to keep up with demand.

“Over the past few years, the sport has become popular in Clark County, just as everywhere else,” says Richard A. Mueller, public information coordinator, for Clark County Parks and Recreation, who explains that community courts have been added at Sunset, Echo Trail, Bob Price, Sunrise, Cougar Creek, Lone Mountain Regional and Hollywood parks and will be added to two park projects over the next year to make the rapidly growing sport accessible to residents. “We do plan to incorporate it in future projects. In addition to park projects, many gymnasiums have been lined to offer indoor pickleball during select days and hours.”

Amie Taylor and Brian Sachs compete at Vegas Indoor Pickleball. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-J ... — Amie Taylor and Brian Sachs compete at Vegas Indoor Pickleball. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Catering to demand, Lemansky plans to make Vegas Indoor Pickleball a round-the-clock facility. “Some of the gyms are open 24 hours,” she says. “We want to introduce pickleball as a 24-hour activity for the local industry people.”

Those who are new to pickleball find it addictive after they start. Mireya Chavarria, who is a part of the Vegas Indoor Pickleball team, didn’t know the sport existed until Lemansky took her to the park to play. Now, she looks forward to it at the end of each week.

“It’s a stress relief,” says Chavarria, a grandmother, who adds that pickleball shakes up her routine. “Honestly, it does make you feel different.” ◆

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Nevada

Nevada Family Law Group’s Caston addresses separation risks after deadly Smith’s dispute

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Press Room

Nevada Family Law Group’s Caston addresses separation risks after deadly Smith’s dispute

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A domestic dispute led to a deadly shooting at a Smith’s in the valley this past Tuesday, and the man accused of the killings is now facing multiple felony charges.

Alejandro Estrada, who is charged with the two deaths at the store, is being held without bail. He faces 11 felony charges, including two counts of murder.

Court records show one of the victims, Amanda Frias Rosas, was involved in an ongoing child support case with Estrada.

Marilyn Caston, a junior partner at Nevada Family Law Group, discussed challenges that can arise for separated couples.

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Nevada

Vegas casino pulls plug on prediction market conference amid Nevada crackdown

Published

16 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Press Room

Vegas casino pulls plug on prediction market conference amid Nevada crackdown

A Las Vegas casino abruptly pulled the plug on a prediction market conference over fears the event could draw scrutiny from Nevada gambling regulators, according to a report.

Predict 2026 had been slated for the Aria on the Strip before the MGM-operated resort canceled the booking just days after signing the agreement.

‘The [Aria] is issuing this notice in light of Nevada’s current regulatory and enforcement position regarding prediction markets,’ a lawyer for the resort wrote in a termination letter cited by Barron’s.

The dispute highlights escalating tensions between state gambling regulators and prediction market firms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, which let people bet on the outcomes of all kinds of events.

Nevada regulators have taken an especially aggressive stance toward the fast-growing sector, arguing that some sports-event contracts resemble unlicensed wagering that bypasses state gaming rules and taxes.

Last October, the Nevada Gaming Control Board warned casino license holders that maintaining ties to prediction market operators could factor into whether they remain eligible for gaming licenses.

“If a Nevada licensee chooses to offer Sports and Other Event Contracts in Nevada or decides to partner with other entities offering Sports and Other Event Contracts in the state, the Board will consider these developments as it evaluates the suitability of the entity to maintain a Nevada gaming license,” regulators said in the guidance cited by Barron’s.

While Predict 2026 was not sponsored by any prediction market company, Aria’s legal notice indicated that regulators had become increasingly sensitive even to indirect promotion of the industry.

The Aria, which opened in 2009 and is operated by MGM Resorts after being sold to Blackstone in 2021, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The showdown highlights the widening divide between traditional casino operators and the new entrants into the prediction market space.

Legacy gaming giants such as MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment have largely stayed away from prediction markets even as companies including DraftKings have launched competing platforms to challenge businesses like Kalshi.

Prediction market operators insist that their event contracts are federally regulated financial instruments overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, allowing them to operate nationwide for users over 18.

Some state gaming regulators, however, have argued that sports-related contracts closely resemble sports betting and should fall under state gambling laws.

Nevada officials have already taken direct legal action against Kalshi.

The Nevada Gaming Commission sued the company over its sports event contracts, and the platform was briefly barred from operating in the state earlier this year, according to Barron’s.

The Post has sought comment from Polymarket, Aria and the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

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