Nevada’s casino resorts could reopen on June 4, if Covid-19 cases do not soar during Memorial Day Weekend, state Governor Steve Sisolak said on Friday.
The Silver State’s top official will hold a news conference this coming Tuesday to confirm the current tentative reopening date.
Casinos in Las Vegas and the rest of Nevada will be able to resume operations on June 4 only after health officials and the Nevada Gaming Control Board give their approval for the reopening.
The state’s hotel and casino resorts have been patiently waiting to swing their doors opens after Gov. Sisolak ordered their closure on March 17 in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
The number of new Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations has continued to drop in Nevada after the state eased some of the imposed restrictions a fortnight ago, Gov. Sisolak said on Friday. Assuming the positive trends continue after Memorial Day Weekend, more facilities around the state will be given the nod to reopen, including casino resorts.
However, many restrictions will remain in place when gambling complexes resume operations. For instance, valet parking will be closed at resorts and guests will have to self-park their vehicles. All casino resort visitors will have their temperatures checked before entering the properties.
All staff members at resorts will be required to wear face masks. Masks will not be mandatory for guests, but they will be strongly encouraged to wear them. Guests and visitors will also be urged to practice social distancing and to avoid gathering in large groups.
Which Las Vegas Resorts Will Reopen June 4?
As it could be expected many are eager to return to the glitzy resorts along the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Vegas. But how many of them are set to reopen on June 4? Here is what some of the biggest local casino operators have said.
Caesars Entertainment Corp. said last week that it would first reopen its Caesars Palace and Flamingo Las Vegas properties “on the date and time for reopening specified by the State of Nevada.” This means that the casino resorts will likely resume operations on the June 4 reopening date set by Gov. Sisolak.
Caesars said that it would not reopen all of its properties at first and will do that in phases instead, based on customer demand.
Caesars Palace and the Flamingo will offer lodging, dining services, and access to their casinos as well as outdoor pool areas. All of these will operate in “a manner consistent with physical distancing guidelines.”
The company will also reopen some of the retail shops and dining outlets at LINQ Promenade as well as the High Roller Observation Wheel on June 4. Caesars said that its Harrah’s Las Vegas and LINQ casino resorts could reopen next, but at a later date.
Services such as bars, buffets, live entertainment, spas, and valet parking would not be immediately reopened at Caesars’ properties, it also became known.
The company, just as the rest of the operators running properties in Las Vegas, has scrapped parking fees.
The Bellagio and New York-New York will be the first MGM Resorts International-owned properties to resume operations. However, the company has not confirmed whether the casino resorts will reopen on June 4.
MGM’s acting CEO and President, Bill Hornbuckle, said last week that plexiglass partitions will separate dealers from players and players from each other at table games. Only four players will be allowed at roulette tables and six at craps tables.
Plexiglass dividers will actually be used at all casinos and are set to become the new normal at gaming floors, along with face masks and hand sanitizers.
Las Vegas Sands plans to reopen its Venetian property first and then relaunch the Palazzo at a later date. The company has not confirmed whether the Venetian will resume operations on June 4.
Wynn Resorts has too not said whether it would reopen the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore resorts on June 4. However, the company announced on Friday that it would reopen five of its restaurants on May 29, with those being Allegro, Jardin, Lakeside, Mizumi, and SW Steakhouse.
Both Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands have previously said that they would use thermal imaging cameras to intercept guests with fevers.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is taking reservations starting June 4, according to the resort’s website. Sahara Las Vegas is taking reservations starting June 1. Other properties across Vegas are, too, taking reservations starting June 1.
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