Most of the major resorts on the Las Vegas Strip have been cleared to return to full capacity on their gaming floors.
Last week, the 18 casino hotels operated by Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International joined Wynn Resorts’ two casino hotels and The Cosmopolitan, which were OK’d by the Nevada Gaming Control Board to go to 100 percent without social distancing earlier this month.
The clearances were granted after the companies achieved the Control Board’s benchmark for employee vaccinations of at least 80 percent having received at least a first shot against the Covid-19 virus.
Others returning to regular business on their gaming floors are locals giants Station Casinos and Boyd Gaming, and the Strat Hotel, Casino & SkyPod on Las Vegas Boulevard just north of Sahara Avenue in the city of Las Vegas.
All achieved the vaccination goal on the strength of on-site inoculation centers.
“This is yet another major milestone in Las Vegas’ incredible recovery and a testament to the importance of vaccination in the effort to fully reopen our community,” MGM Resorts Chief Executive Bill Hornbuckle said.
“While this shift is encouraging, we understand that the battle is not yet won, and it is through a continued commitment to health and safety that Las Vegas can most quickly rebound,” said Caesars CEO Tom Reeg.
Off the casino floors, MGM Resorts said the state’s current 80 percent limit remains in effect along with three-foot social distancing. This includes restaurants, pools and other non-gaming areas and activities. Additional health and safety protocols will also continue, including mask mandates.
“We will continue working to vaccinate as many people as possible and remain vigilant with health and safety protocols designed to protect our employees, guests, and community,” Hornbuckle said. “This vital work must continue for us to defeat this virus, and MGM Resorts is committed to doing our part to get it done.”
Caesars’ employees likewise are still required to wear masks at all times. The mandate also applies to customers except when actively smoking, eating or drinking. Customers who have been fully vaccinated are permitted to remove their masks when seated in pool areas.
The STRAT, owned by Golden Entertainment, also is requiring face coverings for staff and customers.
Most of the casinos stated that they will allow fully vaccinated customers to remove their masks. But how to identify the fully vaccinated? Would they require proof of vaccination? Would they take the word of the customer who claimed to be fully vaccinated? Those questions still remain unanswered.
In March, the Strip reported more than $501 million in gaming revenues in another clear sign the market is bouncing back just a year after the state closed the industry for 78 days to prevent the spread of the potentially deadly virus.
The strong showing was echoed nationwide. The commercial gaming industry won more than $11.1 billion in January, February and March, matching its best first quarter ever.
