Like most gaming activities, esports took a leave of absence when the coronavirus pandemic struck in early 2020. As vaccinations and a reduction in cases have lessened the likelihood of contracting the virus, the casinos expect to bring esports back.
Pre-Covid, casino resorts offered esports tournaments as a different breed of gambling. Agua Caliente Casinos in the Coachella Valley in California, and Luxor in Las Vegas attracted large crowds, according to Ocean County Register. Events drew up to 700 at the Rancho Mirage location.
But as post-Covid emerges, small scale tournaments attracting less than 100 have occurred at the HyperX Esports Arena at Luxor, with health and safety precautions. But the goal is to host larger events later this year.
Esports company Conflux Gaming and Agua Caliente Casinos expect to bring back tournaments as early as May.
“As we open up, as shots start going into arms, as people start moving around and are more comfortable with being out and social, I think the natural question is ‘When do we get back to work?’” Jay Bednar, entertainment coordinator for the Agua Caliente Casinos, said. “The interest is there. I feel like it’s going to be a lot of pent-up demand once we’re able to launch.”
The Agua Caliente Casinos have not set to return to live tourneys. Brian Bork, Agua Caliente’s senior director of marketing, has talked about returning in June.
Owner Chadwick Blackard said the staff at Conflux will be vaccinated prior to returning to in-person tournaments.
“We are thinking very, very big in terms of where we want to go with esports for Agua Caliente and making Agua Caliente certainly the home for the Coachella Valley and perhaps the large part of Southern California,” Bork said.
