Nevada’s casinos are expected to reopen in early June.
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has set a target date of 4 June for the reopening of casinos in the state.
All casinos in the state of Nevada were ordered to temporarily close on 17 March due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, as states across the country are beginning to reopen, Nevada has outlined its own roadmap for the reopening of the state.
Earlier this month, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) published guidelines for the reopening of casinos in the state.
NGCB guidelines
According to the NGCB’s guidelines for reopening, casinos must limit the number of players allowed to enter facilities. In order to help prevent the spread of the virus and increase the distance between players, casino occupancy limits will be cut in half.
Player limits will also be set for table games. Blackjack tables will be limited to three players, craps tables will be limited to six players, roulette tables will be limited to four players and poker tables will be limited to four players per table.
On top of this, venues must “ensure that the floor plan for gaming machines creates proper social distancing between patrons.”
In the announcement for the reopening of the state’s casinos, the Governor’s office said: “Without a thoughtful and measured reopening of Nevada’s gaming industry, all of the work that Nevadans have done to fight the spread of this viral pandemic will have been for naught.
“The Gaming Control Board remains resolute in ensuring that gaming operations in this state do not compromise the health and safety of Nevadans.
“In consultation with the Office of the Governor, as well as federal, state, and local health officials, the board’s policies aim to diminish personal contact and increase the level of disinfection in high-use areas, and the board expects full compliance with these Policies by each licensee.”
The next steps
Yesterday (26 May), the NGCB held a meeting where state and local health and safety officer provided an update on the steps being taken to help combat the spread of the virus in the state.
Prior to the meeting, the NGCB already received input on the reopening of casinos in the state from Oscar Delgado. Delgado is the chief executive of the healthcare provider, Community Healthcare Alliance, who called for a ban on smoking in casinos in the state.
On top of this, Geoconda Arguello-Kline, from the Culinary Union Workers’ Local 226, the state’s largest labor union, called upon the NGCB to make casinos more transparent in their reopening plans.
Casinos that plan to reopen
Prior to the announcement that casinos in the state could reopen on 4 June, Caesars Entertainment announced that it will resume casino and hospitality operations at several of its Las Vegas casino properties once the state regulator gives operators approval.
The casino giant made the announcement last week on 21 May 2020, as several other commercial and tribal casinos operators outlined plans to resume operations across the country.
In the announcement, Caesars announced it will begin reopening its Las Vegas properties with Caesars Palace and Flamingo once state officials give operators the green light.
According to the announcement, both venues will offer lodging, access to outdoor pools, dining options, slot machines and table games. Caesars said that these services will be operated in compliance with social distancing guidelines.
