Casinos in Nevada have reopened with limited capacity and safety measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Sahara Las Vegas and its sister property Grand Sierra Resort could potentially be fined by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) for non-compliance with protocols.
These two properties are the most recent additions to an expanding list of complaints.
Sahara citation references large group meeting
The NGCB lodged a complaint against Sahara Las Vegas last week.
The complaint, filed on August 3, references Governor Steve Sisolak’s emergency directive about the coronavirus pandemic.
Governor Sisolak’s directive restricted gatherings of over 50 people and mandated the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) to issue guidelines for gaming licensees to safely resume their operations.
In response, the board formulated a set of health and safety policies that must be adhered to by licensees.
The complaint mentions one occasion where Sahara did not adhere to Gov. Sisolak’s order against large gatherings. A local trade organization organized a luncheon meeting in one of its conference rooms in July, with around 135 people in attendance.
A representative from Sahara stated there was a “misunderstanding.” Sahara was under the impression that they had received verbal permission from the NGCB to hold the luncheon meeting.
The complaint also mentions three cases where the casino did not adhere to the board’s ban on group formation around table games.
In June, a board representative observed non-playing customers gathering around a craps table, a blackjack table, and a slot machine.
Sahara later issued a statement, acknowledging the significance of safety guidelines and social distancing protocols. They also expressed their intention to adhere to these measures in the future.
Grand Sierra complaint includes failure to wear masks
The NGCB filed a similar complaint against the Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) in Reno last Friday. The Meruelo Group owns both the GSR and Sahara Las Vegas, making them sister properties.
The complaint from GSR was about the obligatory rules for customers and employees to wear face masks in public areas and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The complaint details three occurrences in June and July where patrons either did not wear face masks or wore them incorrectly. It also cites a case where a host neglected to wear one.
In addition, the NGCB points out an instance of insufficient social distancing. An agent reported seeing “a line of no less than 50 customers” waiting for elevators, with GSR employees failing to manage the situation.
In a statement similar to Sahara’s response, Grand Sierra Resort addressed the complaint. The resort recognized the significance of the policies and promptly rectified the issues that were highlighted.
The Nevada Gaming Commission will determine fines, potential suspensions, or license revocations after reviewing the complaints.
Board agents keeping close watch, investigations continue
The complaint against the Grand Sierra Resort is the sixth one filed by the NGCB in relation to noncompliance with COVID-related protocols by gaming properties.
It is possible that more complaints could be forthcoming. The NGCB stated in late July that over 10,000 agent inspections had been carried out. These probes have led to upwards of 150 active inquiries into potential infractions.
Meanwhile, the industry is waiting to see if fines or other penalties will be imposed on those whose noncompliance has attracted regulators’ complaints.
