Las Vegas hotel and casino operator MGM Mirage Inc, has informed its decision to withdrawal from the Nevada Resort Association. According to Gordon Absher, MGM Mirage spokesman, MGM is carefully watching its spending due the national economic crisis affecting the gaming and hotel business in Las Vegas. MGM Mirage, which operates 10 properties on the Las Vegas Strip, reported profits of $113 million in the second quarter this year, nearly 69% less than the same period last year.

"The company made a decision to resign from the NRA for budgetary reasons. It would be inappropriate for others to read too much into this." said Absher.

Absher says MGM Mirage appreciates the Nevada Resort Association’s work and supporting efforts, but in the other hand, the company considered that leaving the association was a “difficult” but necessary decision. According to Absher, the decision had nothing to do with the company's position on an advisory question on the November 4^th ballot on whether hotel room taxes should be increased to fund education programs and to raise the teachers’ salaries in the following years. The proposal has been criticized by Terry Lanni, MGM Mirage Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, however, other operators including Harrah's, Wynn Resorts Ltd. and Station Casinos are supporting the question along with the state teacher's union. MGM Mirage also withdrew from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce right after the 2003 legislative session, in where the Chamber failed to support a statewide tax on gross business receipts measure.

Bill Bible, president of the Nevada Resort Association said he was informed last week that MGM Mirage would quit the association for financial causes.

"We appreciate the efforts of Bill Bible and his team. The simple fact is that MGM Mirage has a government affairs team that does work in those same areas." added Absher: