A Catholic church and a casino are operating under one roof.
The sounds of ringing slot machines and chiming jackpots are an unlikely backdrop for Sunday worship, but at one casino in Laughlin, a Catholic congregation has embraced the setting for more than three decades.
Inside a space just steps from the gaming floor, Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church has been holding Mass for over 30 years, drawing a mix of locals and tourists seeking a spiritual pause amid the bustle of the casino.
Father Charlie Urnick, who leads the services, told KVVU the unusual location often surprises first-time visitors.
“First of all, it’s the visitors — ‘What am I doing in a casino at Mass?’” Urnick told KVVU. “One of our parishioners said to a visitor years ago, once they close that door, you’re in a church.”
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