1. Subject to the final order of any court of competent jurisdiction entered in litigation contesting the validity of an approval by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, whether that approval was affirmative or by default, if that litigation was pending on January 1, 1979, the Agency shall recognize as a permitted and conforming use:

(a) Every structure housing gaming under a nonrestricted license which existed as a licensed gaming establishment on January 1, 1979, or whose construction was approved by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency affirmatively or by default before that date. The Agency shall not permit the construction of any structure to house gaming under a nonrestricted license not so existing or approved, or the enlargement in cubic volume of any such existing or approved structure.

(b) Every other nonrestricted gaming establishment whose use was seasonal and whose license was issued before January 1, 1979, for the same season and for the number and type of games and slot machines on which taxes or fees were paid in the calendar year 1978.

(c) Gaming conducted pursuant to a restricted gaming license issued before January 1, 1979, to the extent permitted by that license on that date.

The area within any structure housing gaming under a nonrestricted license which may be open to public use (as distinct from that devoted to the private use of guests and exclusive of any parking area) is limited to the area existing or approved for public use on May 4, 1979. Within these limits, any external modification of the structure which requires a permit from a local government also requires approval from the Agency. The Agency shall not permit restaurants, convention facilities, showrooms or other public areas to be constructed elsewhere in the region outside the structure in order to replace areas existing or approved for public use on May 4, 1979.

2. Any structure housing licensed gaming may be rebuilt or replaced to a size not to exceed the cubic volume and land coverage existing or approved on May 4, 1979.

(Added to NRS by 1979, 433)