Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak proclaimed on Tuesday night that casinos across the Silver State are set to reopen on June 4. The second phase of the Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery plan is slated to commence on Friday, May 29.
This Friday, various businesses including gyms, spas, and bars will be reopening. Following this, Nevada casinos are projected to reopen next week. These reopenings occur over two months after the state-ordered closure of casinos and non-essential businesses.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) conducted a public online workshop on Tuesday, featuring updates from health experts on the reopening of casinos. The workshop covered a range of topics including COVID-19 testing for frontline employees, temperature checks for incoming guests, and accommodation for guests requiring quarantine, among other things.
The workshop covered a significant amount of health and safety policies that have been previously released. As the reopening draws near, the NGCB will persist in revising its policies for casinos. While it’s not compulsory for casino operators to disclose their plans, many have already done so.
Las Vegas casino openings
Casinos in Nevada have started accepting reservations from June 4. However, not all of them will be reopening immediately. Earlier in the month, several large casino corporations in Las Vegas, owning multiple properties, disclosed their phased reopening plans.
Caesars Entertainment
Immediate openings include Caesars Palace, Flamingo, and Harrah’s (June 5), along with The Linq Promenade. However, Planet Hollywood, Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s, The Cromwell, The Linq, Harrah’s, and Rio are all currently closed. The Linq will be the next venue to open.
MGM Resorts
Bellagio, New York-New York, and MGM Grand are open immediately. However, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Park MGM, Aria, MGM Grand, and The Mirage are currently closed.
Station Casinos
Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Santa Fe Station, Boulder Station, and Sunset Station are now open. However, Palms, Texas Station, Fiesta Henderson, and Fiesta Rancho are closed.
Boyd Gaming
Immediately open: The Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Aliante, Cannery, Sam’s Town, Fremont, California, and Jokers Wild. Currently closed: Eastside Cannery, Main Street Station.
Casinos operated individually will be permitted to reopen starting June 4. Some casinos, like Wynn and Red Rock, are taking the initiative to open their restaurants ahead of the rest of their properties.
Casino health and safety plans
For the past month, Nevada casino companies have been developing new health and safety plans. Each establishment will implement a unique plan that complies with the health and safety guidelines set by the Nevada Gaming Control Board for reopening.
The health and safety plans encompass everything, from capacity restrictions upon reopening to sanitation strategies and social distancing. Two significant changes will be evident when casinos reopen.
- Each venue, including the casino, will only be filled to half capacity. To ensure a six-foot distance, seating will be arranged accordingly in bars, restaurants, and pools.
- Guests are only permitted to play video poker, slots, and other machine games in every alternate seat. The maximum number of players allowed at table games is as follows:
- Blackjack: Table accommodates three players
- Craps: Table accommodates six players
- Table of Roulette: Accommodates Four Players
- Poker: Table accommodates four players
Casinos will employ various strategies to maintain a clean and healthy gambling atmosphere. Components such as chips, cards, machines, tables, seats, and more will undergo increased cleaning. Let’s explore the different health and safety plans of casinos.
- Clean Boyd
- Entertainment by Caesars
- The Strat (Golden Entertainment)
- Lake Tahoe Hard Rock
- Resorts MGM
- Cares Sahara
- Casinos Station
- Island of Treasure
- Clean Venetian
- Plan for Health & Disinfection by Wynn
Every company offers a plan specifically designed for its guests. These plans serve as excellent resources for those with existing hotel reservations or those intending to visit any of these casinos.
What to expect when visiting casinos
Your experience at a Nevada casino can vary based on the location and timing of your visit. If you’re seeking a traditional vacation experience, it might be worth waiting until more amenities within the casinos are accessible and visitor capacity increases.
When they initially reopen, casinos on the Vegas Strip are likely to be noticeably quieter than usual. The reduction in tourists flying to Las Vegas and limited capacity will give the casinos more of a 6 a.m. feel rather than their usual party vibe. However, as capacity increases and tourists start returning, the atmosphere should gradually return to normal.
Casinos across Nevada, frequented by locals, may experience an outpouring of enthusiasm and large audiences from residents eager to get out of their homes. Initially, these casinos might mimic the ambiance typically associated with the Vegas Strip. Casinos in regions outside Nevada, patronized by locals, have witnessed significant crowds upon reopening, with queues forming for entry. Restrictions on seating for table games and the use of machines have kept them as occupied as state regulations permit.
Expect free parking as a given before entering a casino. This applies to establishments such as Caesars Entertainment, the Cosmopolitan, and MGM Resorts, which will all commence operations without any parking fees.
