When will Vegas open

Las Vegas Casino Hotel Rooms ‘Heavily Discounted’ During Summer Reopening

Las Vegas casinos are set to reopen Thursday, June 4, and analysts say hotel room rates will be greatly reduced in the months ahead.



Las Vegas will begin reopening June 4, and hotel rooms will likely be going on the cheap. (Image: UPI)

Last week, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak (D) announced a June 4 target date to reopen casinos. All gaming venues across the state have been closed for more than two months.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) is meeting today to consider necessary health protection measures to assure a safe reopening of the nation’s richest gaming industry. The NGCB will relay its reopening conditions to the governor, who plans to hold a press conference this evening to disclose the terms.

As for Las Vegas’ nearly 150,000 hotel rooms, more than half are expected to remain unavailable for occupancy during the initial restart.

Of the major casino operators on the Strip – MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, and Wynn Resorts – Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Carlo Santarelli expects their available number of rooms to be at 40.8 percent. His conclusion is based on each company’s reopening announcements.

Deals Abound
For those interested and willing to return to Las Vegas, experts say now is the time to book your hotel.

“While we think the demand uptake could be reasonably sufficient, we expect heavily discounted room rates and a higher mix of casino comps,” Santarelli explained in his note.

Nightly rates for June 8-10

• Bellagio $159
• The Venetian $143
• New York-New York $69
• Paris $55
• MGM Grand $53
• The LINQ $35
• Bally’s $35

*above prices do not include taxes and resort fees

The average nightly rate for a Las Vegas Strip hotel room in 2019 was $169.45.

Rates could increase should casinos see a higher-than-expected demand in the weeks and months ahead. But for the meantime, Santarelli believes Sin City will need to rely on drive-in visitors.

“It is reasonable to expect the vast majority of the visitors to be drive-in guests, who would be expected to have a shorter length of stay associated with their trip,” Santarelli concluded.

Air Travel Grounded
Las Vegas’ main airport, McCarran International, reported a record year in 2019 in terms of arriving and departing passenger traffic. The airport served 51.5 million passengers, shattering the previous record set in 2018 of 49.6 million passengers.

Year-to-date, McCarran has reported a 15.5 percent decline in passenger traffic, including a 53.1 percent tumble in March.

In a release titled, “Betting Against the Spread: LAS is ALL IN,” Clark County Director of Aviation Rosemary Vassiliadis says McCarran is focusing on four main areas to mitigate COVID-19: cleaning and sanitization, encouraging and coordinating social distancing, minimizing the number of people in the terminals, and reducing person-to-person interactions and contacts.

“The airport and travel experience is going to be different from what people experienced before the COVID-19 outbreak, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or an infrequent flyer,” said Vassiliadis. “This campaign will help passengers understand the changes they will see at McCarran, and instill the confidence to feel they can still travel in a safe and healthy way.”

 

Nevada Gaming Control Board Irons Out Precautions in Time for Possible June 4 Casino Reopenings

As Nevada moves forward to permit the reopening of gaming properties, the state’s Gaming Control Board Tuesday hashed out additional coronavirus safeguards during a workshop involving multiple state and local officials.



Mason Van Houweling, CEO of University Medical Center, outlined several precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus at Nevada casinos. (Image: KLAS)

The gaming board plans to issue updated guidance in the form of an “industry notice” to gaming properties on Wednesday given that officials expect to let casinos reopen on June 4. Among the topics that may be addressed in the guidance are plexiglass dividers, table game restrictions, responsible gaming, and face coverings.

Other updated issues are temperature checks, use of health professionals, self-assessment forms, designated waiting areas, employee training, as well as meeting and event room capacities.

But some suggestions, such as the Culinary Union’s request that the gaming board release individual reopening plans submitted by casinos, cannot be implemented, argues Nevada Chief Deputy Attorney General Darlene Caruso. She explained the plans submitted to the board, remain “confidential” and “privileged” under state law.

Also, requests that casinos implement smoking bans cannot be required by the gaming board without new legislation approved by the legislature and signed by the governor. “The board’s hands are tied,” Caruso said.

Southern Nevada Health District, UMC Recommend Safeguards
In his board presentation, Dr. Fermin Leguen, acting chief health officer of the Southern Nevada Health District, recommended that guests at casinos or hotels are given a COVID-19 prevention card upon arrival at the venue. The card will specify symptoms and other basic information about the illness.

Guests will also get their temperatures checked upon arrival, Leguen recommended. Guests additionally need to complete a daily coronavirus screening report and should wear face masks, he adds.

Employees also need to get temperatures checked daily and should complete the screening report, Leguen said. Workers need to wear face masks in public areas, too.

If an employee has symptoms, the person needs to go home. A doctor would have to rule out COVID-19 and provide medical clearance before the employee can return to work.

Leguen adds that all frontline workers in casinos should be tested twice for coronavirus in the first month of resumed operations. They would later be tested monthly.

In addition, Mason Van Houweling, CEO of University Medical Center, who is also chairman-elect of the Nevada Hospital Association, recommended in a series of screening proposals, that if a guest upon arrival has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or more, the person needs to get a second temperature check after about 15 minutes. The guest should make sure the elevated temperature is not due to high outside temperatures.

If the temperature is still elevated, the guest should be checked by an emergency medical technician (EMT) for blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse, and fever. The EMT should consult with a physician who is available through telemedicine services.

If needed, the guest would be directed to a coronavirus test which could be done at a gaming property, if appropriate health-care staff is available, or at a testing site.

In an emergency, the patient should be directed to a hospital’s emergency room or an urgent care center.

Patients can approve that their test results be sent to the casino. While the guest awaits the second temperature check and other preliminary exams, they could be directed to a designated area in a resort casino or perhaps wait in their hotel room.

So far, 10 Las Vegas region properties will accept guests who test positive for COVID-19 if a self-quarantine period of two weeks is needed. Their names were not identified by Houweling.

On Tuesday, gaming board commissioner Terry Johnson, an attorney, asked whether some casino guests with fevers may avoid getting a second temperature check, perhaps instead walking out the door and heading to another casino.

We will have those who try to circumvent the system,” Houweling confirmed. “Scenarios will certainly exist, probably [from] day one.”

The goal is to continue to provide healthcare not only to residents but also to all visitors in southern Nevada, officials said. “We’ve always taken care of our visitors in the state,” Houweling added.

Johnson also says the gaming board needs to ensure there is a safe and sanitary reopening of casinos in the state. The integrity of gaming in the state should not be compromised during the reopening process, he added.

In the process to reopen casinos, officials continue to monitor relevant health data. “I know we’re not out of the woods yet,” Phil Katsaros, a gaming board commissioner who formerly was chief executive officer for Certus Gaming USA, said during the workshop.

Sandra Morgan Praised
“It seems like we have done an amazing job in Nevada,” Katsaros added. He points out that gaming board chairwoman Sandra Douglass Morgan led efforts to provide casinos with appropriate guidelines using a “pragmatic approach” where she has been open to flexible safeguards as the situation evolves.

“How lucky we are to have you as chair,” Katsaros told Morgan. “My sincere and heartfelt gratitude to you.”

In her comments, Morgan noted that there is not a “magic” number or percentage of those getting tested for coronavirus. She also pointed out that many gaming properties are already testing their employees for the virus.

On April 24, the state saw a 12.2 percent rate for positive coronavirus tests, Caleb Cage, Nevada’s COVID-19 response director, said. The rate was at 6.9 percent on Monday. Since the outbreak began, 133,508 tests were performed in Nevada.

Looking ahead, the state wants to test 2 percent of Nevada’s population over each of the next 12 months. So, within a year, 24 percent of residents will be tested for the virus, Cage said.

 

Sisolak: Businesses including bars, gyms and churches can reopen on Friday as state moves into ‘Phase 2’

 

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Wynn Las Vegas Among Casinos to Reopen on June 4

Wynn Las Vegas announced Wednesday it will resume operations at its shuttered gaming properties on June 4 with extensive health precautions in place. Similar announcements were made this week by some other companies following Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak saying on Tuesday he is “confident” that the state’s casinos can reopen on June 4 with appropriate safeguards.

Wynn Resorts said the two Wynn casinos, both the Wynn and Encore hotel towers, the golf course and pools, and onsite restaurants will reopen on June 4. Later in June, a new eatery, Elio, will open at the venue.

We are ready to provide our guests … a full Las Vegas experience with a collection of luxury amenities and unmatched service,” Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox said in a statement. Also, the company’s health and safety plan “will enable a safe environment for our guests,” Maddox added.

The reopening will include resumed operations at two 24-hour casinos. Table games, slot machines, and the race and sports book will be available to players, the statement said. Also, Wynn will provide nightly entertainment at the Lake of Dreams and retail operations will reopen, too.

To minimize risk of coronavirus transmission, the gaming property will use various social distancing methods, health-care precautions, and cleaning or disinfection protocols.

For instance, visitors will have their temperatures checked upon arrival. Staff will use non-invasive thermal devices. Also, face masks will be handed out to guests at property entrances.

Beyond that, the gaming property has installed multiple automatic hand sanitizer stations, ultraviolet (UV) technology, and electrostatic sprayers. The equipment will help destroy the COVID-19 virus.

Guests staying at the hotel will find their rooms are sanitized. Each guest will also be given a safety kit. They feature sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, and face coverings.

As part of the venue’s stepped-up cleaning, workers will sanitize public guest areas in the property 24 hours a day, the statement adds. Also, throughout the day, Wynn employees will wear masks. Each Wynn employee working next week at the property was tested and cleared for COVID-19.

The Wynn Resorts health and safety plan was developed with input from health specialists at Georgetown and Johns Hopkins universities. It also reflects guidance provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Southern Nevada Health District, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Caesars Palace, Flamingo Also Welcome Back Guests
Caesars Entertainment additionally announced Wednesday it will reopen gaming and lodging at Caesars Palace and the Flamingo on June 4. Several restaurants will also reopen.

The resort casinos will provide access to slot machines and table games, Caesars Entertainment said. Health precautions based on national, state, and local guidelines will be in effect to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.

Caesars will require its employees to undergo temperature checks before every shift. They will also wear face masks.

Guests at the Caesars properties will be provided masks and “strongly encouraged to wear them throughout their visit,” according to a company statement.

Live entertainment, bars, spas, buffets, and valet parking will not be offered immediately. Other Caesars’ properties in Nevada will reopen in phases.

The D, Golden Gate, MGM Reopenings Scheduled
In addition, the D Las Vegas and the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino are also scheduled to reopen on June 4, according to a company statement. They are owned by Derek Stevens and the venues will have increased health and cleaning protocols in place.

This week, MGM Resorts International announced its planned June 4 reopening of Bellagio, New York-New York, MGM Grand Las Vegas, and The Signature. Amenities at properties will be limited. As demand increases, additional venues within these resorts will open and other MGM Resorts properties on The Strip will reopen.

KLAS TV reported the Venetian Resort expects to reopen on June 4, too. The reopening will be done in phases, the report said.

 

Gaming Control Board releases updated policy guiding casino reopenings

Resorts must check guests’ temperature upon arrival or have a medical professional on property at all times and require guests to complete a symptom self-assessment, according to an updated policy released Wednesday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board as casinos gear up for reopening.

The seven-page policy document builds upon the industry notice the regulatory agency issued earlier this month. The Gaming Control Board held a workshop Tuesday and heard from a variety of health and safety experts, who recommended screening guests as they arrive on property.

Gov. Steve Sisolak confirmed Tuesday evening that casinos may reopen June 4 following the pandemic-fueled shutdown that lasted more than two months. But, first, casinos must submit reopening plans to the Gaming Control Board seven days before opening their doors.

The regulatory agency’s updated policy document lays out all the requirements facing the gaming industry. For instance, the Gaming Control Board instructs properties to create a designated area within the resort where guests can be tested for COVID-19 and safely await results.

Here are other health and safety procedures spelled out in the policy document:

• Properties must make face coverings available for guests upon request and encourage people to wear them in public areas.
• Casinos must limit the number of players at table games — three per blackjack table; six per craps table; four per roulette and poker tables — or they can submit alternate social distancing plans to the board for approval.
• Plans must detail how casinos will disinfect chips and cards and ensure cleaning of gaming equipment before a new employee starts a shift.
• Hotel front desks, business centers, bars, restaurants, retail spaces, pools, convention areas and back-of-house operations must adhere to federal, state and local social-distancing requirements.
• Gaming areas must be limited to 50 percent of their occupancy capacity.
• Nightclubs and dayclubs will remain closed until further notice.
• Signage reminding employees and patrons of proper hygiene should be displayed around the property.
• Reopening plans must include a casino’s commitment to responsible gaming measures, and the Gaming Control Board encourages enhanced employee training or specialized messaging for patrons.

The Gaming Control Board clarified Tuesday that reopening plans submitted by casinos are deemed confidential by Nevada law, though properties can make them public if they desire.

Following the governor’s reopening announcement Tuesday night, several gaming companies with properties on the Las Vegas Strip have released more details about their plans to welcome back guests. MGM Resorts plans to reopen the Bellagio, New York-New York, MGM Grand Las Vegas and The Signature properties on June 4.

Caesars Entertainment said it will reopen Caesars Palace and the Flamingo Las Vegas properties on June 4 along with some retail and dining establishments in The LINQ Promenade and the High Roller Observation Wheel. And Wynn Resorts said it will reopen both its Wynn and Encore hotel towers on June 4.

Boyd Gaming Corporation plans to resume operations June 4 at the following nine properties: The Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Aliante, Cannery, Sam’s Town, Fremont, California and Jokers Wild.

 

There's some pretty good deals out there. Several places are dropping resort fees on weekdays.

The question is will people still have fun with restrictions and partial shutdowns.

 

A look at when and how Nevada casinos plan to reopen
Last updated: May 27th, 2020 - 6:17pm

Nevada is approaching a major milestone after Gov. Steve Sisolak announced that casinos will be allowed to reopen June 4.

The unprecedented, more than two-month shutdown of gaming has driven an astronomical increase in joblessness, with Nevada’s unemployment rate now the highest in the nation and the Las Vegas area alone notching a rate of more than 33 percent.

Throwing the doors open for tourists could go a long way to address the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic. But it hasn’t been done without careful deliberation on how to make casino experiences — defined by packed nightclubs and friends clustered around craps tables — into ones less likely to propagate the spread of COVID-19.

The Gaming Control Board is requiring companies to submit reopening plans that incorporate some baseline health and safety measures. The regulatory agency released an updated health and safety policy, which gaming licensees must abide by, on Wednesday.

While gambling has been at a standstill — losing the state general fund an estimated $160 million in gaming taxes this fiscal year and costing the state far more than that in economic activity — gaming regulators have taken some preliminary steps toward reopening such as allowing restaurants within casinos to reopen. But the green light to welcome back visitors doesn’t mean all casinos will reopen their doors at the same time. Several gaming companies have announced plans to reopen casinos on a gradual basis.

Many companies have publicly released details about how they’ll do things differently once they reopen. Here’s what we know about the plans of some of the largest casino companies in Nevada. If you have suggested updates, send an email to [email protected].

Casino Companies

MGM

Properties: Mandalay Bay, Delano, Luxor, Excalibur, New York-New York, Park MGM, Aria, Vdara, Mirage, Bellagio, MGM Grand, The Signature

Reopening date: Operations are expected to resume June 4 at the Bellagio, New York-New York, MGM Grand Las Vegas and The Signature on June 4, the company announced on May 27.

Details:

“As we plan for these openings, the health and safety of our guests and employees is at the forefront of all we do,” said Bill Hornbuckle, president and CEO of MGM Resorts, in a statement. “Getting many of our employees back to work and welcoming guests through our doors once again will allow us to do what we do best – entertain. The team is ready and we can’t wait.”

The company announced that it is opening its Bellagio Conservatory with a Japanese spring garden display, and would reactivate the dancing fountains. The Bellagio’s pool and some cabanas will open, along with the salon and fitness center.

At the New York-New York, the Big Apple Roller Coaster and Hershey’s Chocolate world are among the venues reopening. At the MGM Grand, the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill are among the dining establishments that will reopen.

The company announced on Twitter that free parking will be available at resorts after they open, a shift from a recent move to charge for self-parking.

Status of employees: In early April, MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the company has furloughed about 60,000 employees — the vast majority of its workforce outside of Macau.

Hornbuckle said in an interview with CNBC’s Contessa Brewer that the company has 82,000 employees worldwide. About 13,000 work in Macau, and 69,000 don’t.

“It’s been devastating,” Hornbuckle said about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Upon news of the state-mandated closures, MGM Resorts announced it would pay employees for two weeks and pay health insurance premiums through August. Many of the furloughed employees are on unemployment.

Caesars Entertainment

Properties: Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, LINQ, Paris, Bally’s, Flamingo, Planet Hollywood, The Cromwell

Reopening date: Caesars Palace, the Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrahs’ Lake Tahoe and Harrah’s Laughlin are planning to reopen on June 4.

Details:

Caesars Palace and the Flamingo will offer lodging, dining, access to outdoor pools and gaming upon reopening.

“Management at both properties is focused on the well-being of team members, guests and the community, and will work to create an environment with enhanced standards of sanitization and physical distancing practices,” the company said in a press release on May 27.

Some stores and restaurants in the Caesars-owned LINQ Promenade are also expected to reopen, as well as the High Roller Observation Wheel.

An earlier press release indicated certain amenities would not be available immediately upon reopening, including live entertainment, buffets and valet parking.

Fees for self-parking have been suspended.

Next in line for reopening are Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and the casino floor at The LINQ Hotel & Casino, but the timing will be based on customer demand.

Caesars-owned casinos elsewhere in the country are starting to open, including properties in Arizona, California and Louisiana.

Status of employees: Caesars Entertainment announced April 2 that it was furloughing about 90 percent of its employees in 13 states. The company employs about 64,000 workers in its U.S. and international resorts.

It paid employees for the first two weeks of the shutdown and is paying employee health insurance premiums until June 30 or when employees return to work. Many employees are drawing unemployment benefits.

Wynn Resorts

Properties: Wynn, Encore

Reopening date: Wynn Resorts is reopening both its Wynn and Encore properties June 4.

Details: Wynn officials promised customers a “full Las Vegas experience” when they return in early June. The reopening will include both hotel towers, the two 24-hour casinos, all restaurants, resort pools with private cabanas, Wynn’s 18-hole championship golf course, three retail esplanades, nightly entertainment at the “Lake of Dreams,” and beauty salons, spa treatments and fitness centers.

The gaming company also detailed some of its enhanced health and safety measures. Wynn casinos will be conducting non-invasive thermal temperature checks, offering face coverings, and providing hand sanitation stations as well as sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer in each guest room. The properties will also be using UV technology and electrostatic sprayers in the resorts.

“We are ready to provide our guests with a full Las Vegas experience with a collection of luxury amenities and unmatched service,” Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox said in a statement. “At the same time, our extensive Health & Safety Plan, validated by the nation’s leading public health experts, will enable a safe environment for our guests. The entire Wynn team is looking forward to welcoming our guests back.”

Status of employees: Employees have been paid throughout the shutdown and will continue to be paid through the end of May, Maddox said in a video May 6.. There are about 15,000 employees covered by the pay extension.

Las Vegas Sands

Properties: Venetian, Palazzo

Reopening date: The Venetian is taking reservations for arrivals starting June 4.

Details: As part of a phased reopening, the Venetian resort will be the first to reopen, followed by the Palazzo, the company announced last week. The company said it will be performing COVID-19 testing on employees over a two-week period to prepare for welcoming guests again.

In a tweet on May 27, The Venetian said that it will have a full casino floor, more than a dozen restaurants, several bars, a fully renovated pool deck, fitness center and multiple stores available upon reopening.

The company is launching a “Share the LOVE” program which donates a free night at The Venetian to a frontline “community hero” or first responder for every room night booked through the program.

Status of employees: Las Vegas Sands plans to continue paying its estimated 9,300 workers until its “anticipated reopening in June,” according to a company statement.

Station Casinos

Properties: Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Sunset Station, Boulder Station, Santa Fe Station, Texas Station, Fiesta Rancho, Fiesta Henderson, Wild Wild West, Wildfire casinos

Reopening date: Station Casinos plans to reopen its Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Santa Fe Station, Boulder Station, Palms Place, Palace Station and Sunset Station properties on June 4, pending regulatory approval. All of its Wildfire division properties will reopen that same day.

But the Palms, Texas Station, Fiesta Henderson and Fiesta Rancho properties will remain closed until the company can “assess the performance of those first-to-reopen properties,” according to a news release May 27.

Restaurants within certain casinos opened starting May 26 at Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch and Santa Fe Station..

Details: Station Casinos said the properties reopening will feature a “robust” array of gaming, dining, meeting and event space options.

The company plans to check the temperature of employees and guests via non-invasive thermal scanners installed at property entrances. It’s also requiring employees to undergo COVID-19 testing before returning and then at regular intervals. Employees will wear personal protective equipment consistent with health guidelines, and touch-free hand sanitizing stations have been set up around the properties as well.

“As the Company prepares to reopen, the number one priority has been, and will continue to be, the health and wellbeing of its team members, guests and the entire Las Vegas community,” officials said in a news release May 27.

Status of employees: Station Casinos had committed to paying its employees through the much of the shutdown, but announced May 1 that it would need to do layoffs.

According to notifications that Station Casinos filed with the state, the layoffs were expected to affect 6,434 of its 14,000 employees.

The company announced May 27 that it would extend regular pay and benefits for all full-time employees through June 3.

Boyd

Properties: Aliante, Gold Coast, Sam’s Town, Suncoast, The Orleans, California Hotel, Fremont Hotel, Main Street Station

Reopening date: Nevada properties will begin reopening June 4, pending regulatory approval.

Details: The company announced on May 27 that Nevada properties opening June 4 included The Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Aliante, Cannery, Sam’s Town, Fremont, California and Jokers Wild. Three properties will remain closed: Eastside Cannery, Eldorado and Main Street Station

“We are excited for the opportunity to resume operations in our home state of Nevada,” Keith Smith, Boyd’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “By the first week of June, we look forward to having 19 of our 29 properties across the country back in operation, and we are optimistic that we will be able to reopen most of our remaining properties by the end of June.”

Slots and video poker will be available 24/7 at the casinos, but restaurants, table games and other amenities have varied hours and availability. Movie theaters, showrooms, fitness centers and spas are closed upon initial reopening.

Boyd started reopening casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi on May 20 and 21.

Status of employees:

Boyd paid staffers during the shutdown through April 10, and maintained their health coverage through June 30 or when they return to work, whichever arrives sooner. But they put most of their workers on unpaid furlough.

“Implementing furloughs was a last resort for us, but a necessary step to protect our company, especially given the current lack of visibility regarding property re-openings,” Boyd President and CEO Keith Smith in a statement.

Boyd has about 25,000 employees at 29 properties in 10 states.

Blackstone

Properties: The Cosmopolitan

Reopening date: 10 a.m. on June 4.

Details: In a press release on May 27, the casino said it will reopen in multiple phases that will include a slow reintroduction of additional outlets in the coming months.

The initial phase includes the majority of restaurants on the property, plus bars including The Chandelier. The Boulevard Pool and the spa will reopen, but nightlife and entertainment venues will remain closed.

“As we all acclimate to this new normal, we know the travel experience our guests have grown accustomed to will be altered,” William P. McBeath, The Cosmopolitan’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “However, we are committed to delivering the exceptional service, energy and dedication that our [employees] provide and our guests seek. We look forward to welcoming our guests back to the resort soon.”

Self-parking fees are suspended, and valet parking is complimentary for hotel guests.

Status of employees:

The Cosmopolitan paid full-time employees through mid-April and extended health benefits through June 30, but announced in early April that it was furloughing most of its employees through the duration of the shutdown, according to KSNV.

Golden Entertainment

Properties: The STRAT Hotel, Arizona Charlie’s; Aquarius Casino Resort and Edgewater Hotel & Casino Resort in Laughlin.; Pahrump Nugget, Gold Town Casino and Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump; PT’s Taverns, Sean Patrick’s, Sierra Gold and SG Bar

Reopening date: Unknown. Five PT’s taverns in Southern Nevada and one in Reno reopened May 19 for dine-in service as well as curbside pickup and delivery, but with limited hours instead of the usual 24-hour schedule, no bar seating and no gaming.

Details: The company announced its “Golden Commitment” plan on May 21 detailing its upgraded health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Status of employees: The company’s various subsidiaries notified the state of thousands of layoffs that were expected to begin mid-March.

The company has about 7,000 employees, who were paid for a week into the shutdown.

Sahara

Properties: Sahara Las Vegas

Reopening date: June 4

Details: Sahara announced on Twitter on May 27 that it would be opening again on June 4.

“Your comfort and safety are always our paramount concern,” the company’s website said. “We look forward to welcoming you back to our beloved city.”

The company announced May 21 that it expects to implement a “phased approach to re-opening” and would be implementing a “SAHARA Cares” program with hundreds of new sanitation protocols.

Status of employees: The Sahara announced March 16 that it was making “drastic cuts to its operations” including a “temporary reduction of workforce” but that it would “maintain health benefits for all individuals affected by these changes during this difficult time.”

The company did not say how many employees were affected.

Grand Sierra Resort

Properties: Grand Sierra Resort (Reno)

Reopening date: June 4

Details: “While we could not be more pleased to see you again, we realize that our world is a much different place — and many concerns must be addressed in a meaningful and transparent manner in order to provide much-needed peace of mind,” the company said on its website, which features a ticker counting down the days until reopening. “GSR is committed to doing our best to provide a safe and healthy environment for our valued guests and devoted team members.”

Atlantis

Properties: Atlantis (Reno)

Reopening date: June 4 at 10 a.m.

Details: “In preparation for our re-opening, Atlantis Casino has implemented improved hygiene and sanitization protocols throughout our property, which exceed the baseline CDC and Gaming Control Board requirements to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases,” the company said on its website.

Peppermill

Properties: Peppermill (Reno)

Reopening date: June 4.

Tamares Group

Properties: Plaza Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas)

Reopening date: June 4

Details: The property has implemented a number of health and safety measures, such as giving guests face masks, closing valet parking, limiting elevator occupancy to four people and installing plexiglass barriers at the registration desk.

All employees will wear face masks and have their temperature taken before starting work.

Self-parking will be free for all hotel and casino guests.

“The last three months have been a difficult time for the Plaza, Las Vegas, and our country as a whole,” Plaza Hotel & Casino CEO Jonathan Jossel said in a statement. “People are yearning to get back to living their lives, including relaxing by the pool and playing on the casino floor. While we recognize the experience will be different than before, it is the start of bringing back fun and entertainment to people’s lives – now, during these stressful times, when they need it most. So, we are very excited to welcome guests back to the Plaza and bring back the vintage Vegas vibe that our guests deserve and have come to expect.”

 

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RJ has a great video of the opening of Bellagio here. Unlimited free gloves and masks. Plastic shields on most games (not Roulette or craps so you have to wear a mask for those games). Looks pretty busy for a 11am on a Thursday.

They built an actually hand washing station in the middle of the casino floor! Not sure why you can't just use a restroom for this but hey... going the extra mile I guess.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/las-vegas-casinos-reopen-after-78-day-coronavirus-closure-blog-2044745/



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State of the art chip sanitizing procedures at Caesars Palace.

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Employees at Caesars Palace disinfect casino chips at the property on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. (Jeff Scheid/The Nevada Independent)

 

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Going to Wynn tonight with friends, will report back!

 

Wynn has a little more than I expected. There are a few hundred people spread out across the game floor, bars and restaurants. About 25 ppl at this center bar. some of the restaurants look over half full with their reduced number of tables.

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My friend posted this from Red Rock Casino:

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Ended up at Red Rock on the way home, it was busier than Palazzo. Not bad late Thursday.

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The real question will be opening day on Monday night football in Raiders stadium.

I really hope they allow people in the stands with protections in place.


What a great message it would send to people around the world about Vegas reopening. Maybe the greasiest PR stunt of all time.

“You can come to Vegas and be safe at the same time.”

 

lots of locals out right now. The strip will come back soon.

United just started direct flight reservations for LA again this week starting in July.

 

Carolyn Goodman may be vindicated, if this works out.

 

She said it wrong but she was right... give business the goals then let BUSINESS figure it out. Let people decide for themselves.

Vegas can show the world that you can have a great time and be safe.

RIGHT NOW its safer to be in a Vegas Hotel than in your own home.

 

Everything was immaculately clean at the three properties we visited.

 

Are we open? I guess so!!!!