Several hotels and casinos in Las Vegas are preparing to welcome guests. At least five establishments located on or near the Vegas Strip are set to open between June 18 and July 1.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak permitted Nevada casinos to reopen on June 4 after mandating their closure in mid-March.
Many casinos in Las Vegas, located off the Strip, opened right after midnight on June 4. Those on the Strip waited a few hours and opened later that day. Nonetheless, not all Las Vegas casinos resumed operations in the week following their permitted opening. As demand grows, casino operators are gradually reopening more properties.
MGM Resorts casino openings
MGM Resorts, after opening Excalibur last week, has announced their intention to open more properties. The company has declared that Luxor and The Shoppes at Mandalay Bay Place are set to reopen at 10 a.m. on June 25.
On July 1, MGM Resorts is set to open Aria at 10 a.m. and Mandalay Bay, Delano, and Four Seasons (located at Mandalay Bay) at 11 a.m. However, the official opening date for the third hotel tower at Mandalay Bay, Delano Las Vegas, has not been announced yet.
MGM Resorts’ Acting CEO and President, Bill Hornbuckle, expressed both excitement and emotion in seeing the energy in Las Vegas as they welcomed back employees and guests for the first time in months. He stated, “Our guests are thoroughly enjoying themselves and are delighted to return to the city they love. We are keen to continue bringing more of our employees back to work and adding to the Las Vegas experience with more resorts.”
The below-listed MGM Resorts Las Vegas casinos are either currently open or will open shortly:
- Bellagio
- MGM Grand
- New York-New York
- Excalibur
- Luxor (June 25)
- Aria (July 1)
- July 1 at Mandalay Bay and Delano
Delano, Park MGM, The Mirage, and/or Vdara could potentially be utilized by NHL players and staff. As part of Las Vegas serving as a hub city for the NHL Stanley Cup playoff tournament, these hotels and casinos might be used in some capacity.
Anticipate the announcement of opening dates for the remaining properties following the official statement from the NHL about playoffs occurring in Las Vegas.
Caesars Las Vegas casino openings
Caesars Entertainment, similar to MGM Resorts, is gradually reopening its Las Vegas casinos. The first two establishments to reopen, on June 4, were Caesars Palace and Flamingo. Harrah’s followed suit a day after. The Linq promenade and High Roller observation wheel have also reopened, albeit on a limited basis.
Last week, The Linq casino and amenities were opened by Caesars. However, the hotel and parking garage are still closed. The next Caesars Las Vegas casino set to open is Paris Las Vegas on June 18 at 10 a.m.
Concerning the new openings, Tony Rodio, CEO of Caesars, stated:
“We’re heartened by the interest and visits from our customers, the robust demand, and the successful execution of our improved health and safety protocols. This marks a new method of operation, and we will persistently reassess and modify our procedures to improve the comfort and experiences of our guests and team members.”
The following casinos in Caesars Las Vegas are currently open or will open soon:
- Caesars Palace
- Flamingo
- Harrah’s
- The Linq (only casino and amenities, hotel announcement pending)
- Paris (June 18)
The operation of Caesar’s venues and amenities are currently limited. The company is persistently revising its Las Vegas reopening page.
Westgate opening June 18
Westgate Las Vegas, located just off the Vegas Strip, is set to reopen at midday on June 18th. The hotel and casino’s reopening will be slightly different from other local casinos. David Siegel, Westgate’s owner, expressed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal his aspiration for the property to be recognized as the safest in Las Vegas.
All employees at Westgate, like other Las Vegas casinos, will be wearing face masks. To give people an idea of their actual appearance without a mask, the staff will also wear a photo of themselves smiling.
Players will be mandated to wear a face covering while playing approximately half of the table games at the casino. Also, there will be certain elevators where guests will be required to don a face mask for the ride.
Siegel and his team have been enhancing the Westgate during its closure. The Las Vegas SuperBook is undergoing a significant visual makeover. The 240-by-20 foot HD video wall is being revamped. The updated screens will feature a new layout with a larger ticker at the bottom, making it more convenient to keep track of scores. In addition, the new screens will be brighter, providing a crisper display that is easier on the eyes.
Face coverings not required for guests … yet
It is mandatory for all casino employees in Nevada to wear a face mask during their work hours. However, this rule does not extend to all casino guests. While Nevada casinos do encourage guests to wear face coverings while inside the casino, they do not make it a requirement for entry.
Guests are allowed to wander around the casinos without wearing a face mask. Based on observations, most casino visitors opt not to wear face coverings while exploring the casinos. It seems that younger guests, particularly during nighttime visits, are predominately choosing not to wear a mask. Conversely, a higher proportion of older guests are seen wearing a mask during their casino visits.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has not imposed a mandatory face mask rule for casino guests as of now. However, Governor Sisolak and the NGCB are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. In a press conference providing updates on Nevada’s current COVID-19 status, Sisolak stated that the government may reconsider imposing a mask mandate if hospitals start to become overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases.
Nevada reopening Phase 2 continues
The second phase of reopening in Nevada began on May 29, with casinos permitted to reopen on June 4 as part of this phase. However, due to a slight increase in COVID-19 infections, Gov. Sisolak recently announced in a press conference that the state would continue to stay in Phase 2.
At least until the completion of the second phase, casinos will maintain the same social distancing measures and limited capacity. Sisolak plans to speak to the state again before the end of the month.
Phase 2 changes are prompting a reaction from Las Vegas casinos. Nightclubs have been transformed into lounges, while dayclubs have been repurposed as reservation-only poolside clubs. In a similar vein, the Wynn buffet is set to reopen on June 18 and will feature a seated all-you-can-eat experience with comparable food offerings.
