“I worry about my customers, but I worry about the 8,000 to 9,000 people coming in to work every day. I don’t want any of my employees to get sick. When a guest says I don’t want to wear the mask, I have no hesitancy to say, ‘Get out.’”
—Ellen Whittemore, senior VP and general counsel for Wynn Resorts, on her impatience with customers who refuse to wear a mask inside the property
“If you smoke, you can’t follow the mask guidance.”
—UNLV epidemiologist Brian Labus on actions being taken at some Las Vegas casinos to discourage players from lighting up
“Our team members were elated and so happy to be back. I would say we’re more appreciative of them than they are of us. I know we paid everyone in the interim, but I’m just grateful they are coming back. They didn’t have to stay around, but they did.”
—Eric Gullbrants, president of Encore Boston Harbor, upon the reopening of the casino
“It’s in the interest of the town not to end up in the same sort of financial pickle.”
—Patricia Hilton, Tiverton, Rhode Island, Town Council President, on why the town should pass an ordinance limiting what casino revenue can be used for—in case its casino closes again
“Our position is, if we are all in this together, we are all in this together.”
—Kyle Kirkland, president of the California Gaming Association, whose members are card clubs, calling for the governor to close Indian casinos in addition to card clubs
“Guests want to feel safe when they come to your property, or they’re not going to come. I think that’s what’s really become the differentiator for properties, is which property is safer, and it’s probably even more important than which property has more amenities or provides better service.”
—Jeffrey Hamilton, president and general manager of the Mohegan Sun, speaking at a panel discussion: “The Road Back”
“We’ve now set the bar higher for health and safety, and we’re going to be held accountable for it.”
—Virginia Valentine, president of the Nevada Resort Association
“Prior to the pandemic about the only one you saw with a rag in their hand was a person from housekeeping. Now everyone from the senior executive to the entire team seems to walk around with a spray bottle and cloth in their hand.”
—Buddy Frank, of BF Slot Strategies on the cleanliness protocols that casinos have adopted in response to the pandemic
