CARSON CITY -- Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto is still considering her next move after a federal judge last week allowed legally-operating brothels to advertise statewide.

Las Vegas-based U.S. District Judge James Mahan on Thursday ruled unconstitutional two 1979 state laws preventing advertising in counties where prostitution is illegal. The ACLU of Nevada brought the challenge on behalf of a legal brothel and two newspapers.

Clark County and Washoe Counties, home to Las Vegas and Reno respectively, are the only two counties in Nevada that do not have legalized brothels. The state has about 25 legal brothels in 10 rural counties.

Masto's office opposed the ACLU's challenge and a representative told the AP that the attorney general had still not decided whether to appeal Mahan's ruling. A Masto deputy had testified to Mahan that striking the bans down could encourage prostitution and endanger children.

Media outlets hailed the ruling but brothel owners were more cautious about its impacts on the industry. George Flint, executive director of the Nevada Brothel Owners Association, told the AP the ruling would be "a challenge for us" over the temptation to use explicit material.

One Beatty-area brothel operator said he feared some owners would use "pornographic" advertising. Brothels managers in Pahrump have already pledged to "use good taste" in their now-legal advertising, the AP reported.

Some local conservatives have opposed removing the ban because it undermines local control over a controversial issue, kolotv.com reported.

Nevada Eagle Forum leader Janine Hansen said the ruling prevents local government from passing laws to stop brothels from promoting to its citizens using what she calls "indecent materials."