Every weekend at the Riverside Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, the hum of slot machines is joined by hymns as Catholic Mass is celebrated in the 800-seat Don’s Celebrity Theatre, just past the poker tables.
Father Charlie Urnick, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, told The Independent: 'We sometimes joke that we’re the only Catholic church that has valet parking.' The arrangement began in 1992 when about 500 residents petitioned the Diocese of Reno for a priest, and Father John McShane started celebrating Mass in local casinos that year. Services moved to the Riverside showroom in 1996 and have continued there ever since.
Although the parish built its own church in 2003 about five miles away, weekend Mass at the casino draws larger crowds. The venue, usually a concert hall hosting tribute bands, transforms for worship with large screens displaying stained-glass imagery. Parishioners often donate casino chips or slot tickets, which volunteers—nicknamed 'chip munks'—redeem.
Urnick noted that worshippers include locals who prefer the casino’s accessibility and tourists who hear by word of mouth. 'They seem kind of surprised at first that there’s Mass at the casino, but once they come, they come back,' he said. Auxiliary Bishop Gregory Gordon added that Catholic Mass in Las Vegas-area casinos began in 1958, timed around shift changes for 24-hour workers.
The mix of locals and visitors gives each service a different rhythm. Urnick described the Saturday night Mass as upbeat, with people heading to dinner or a show afterward, while the Sunday noon Mass sees people checking out and heading home. He approaches his services like a seasoned performer, saying: 'If you can make people smile when they come to church on Sunday, do it—they’ve had a hard week.'
