Las Vegas prepares for tourists
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has announced June 4 as the target date for the state’s casinos to reopen, including the Las Vegas Strip.
NGCB must provide its approval before the industry can resume operations
According to media reports, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) will convene Tuesday with health officials to review safety and sanitization protocols proposed by casino resorts. The NGCB must provide its approval before the industry can resume operations.
The announcement, made on Friday afternoon, comes 78 days after Gov. Sisolak ordered Nevada casinos to shut down to combat the spread of COVID-19, following similar action by more than ten other governors.
Welcome news
Nevada’s unemployment rate reached record highs during the casino closure period. Las Vegas was among the areas hardest hit by the pandemic in the U.S., with some 342,000 people out of a job.
Gov. Silolak’s statement has been welcomed by many of Nevada’s major industry representatives. The president and CEO of the Nevada Resort Association, Virginia Valentina, described it as “fantastic news”. She added: “Our members have spent more than two months preparing for this day […] [They] are excited to show off the enhancements they’ve made that preserve the experience while ensuring the well-being of our employees and visitors. We’re ready to go back.”
Wynn Resorts Ltd spokesman Michael Weaver applauded the decision to target June 4 for reopening, praising Gov. Sisolak’s “careful, science-based approach to containing the virus.”
Casinos have already reopened in 12 other states in the past days, including ones in South Dakota, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Sin City raring to go
Major casino operators in Las Vegas also reacted positively to the news. Caesars Entertainment Corporation spokesman Richard Broom said the company was “excited to welcome back guests and team members with enhanced health and safety protocols in compliance with state directives.” Boyd Gaming Corporation spokesman David Strow commented: “It’s been a long two months for everyone in the state, but we’re ready to go back to business in Nevada.”
MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Boyd Gaming have already started testing their Las Vegas staff for coronavirus ahead of their return to work.