“Some people moved from hospitality to something else. Some like their new life and they’re not going back to hospitality as easily as employers would like them to. The question for some will be if wages are high enough to get people to come back.”
—Jeff Waddoups, economist, University of Nevada Las Vegas, on a tight labor market for hospitality workers
“Everybody’s hyped to be here. I think a lot of people are happy to have that vibe of getting out and doing stuff again. It’s good to see it.”
—Ryan Puentes, conventioneer, Tobacco Plus Expo, the first trade show to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center since the Covid-19 shutdown
“A timeless moment in poker history.”
—Jeff Boski, poker pro, in a Twitter post heralding the removal of Plexiglas dividers from poker tables in Henderson, Nevada casinos
“I don’t think it’s going to have an adverse effect on business. I think it’s going to send a strong message to our guests and to the people of Nevada that, ‘Hey, this thing might finally be over.’”
—Tim Brooks, owner, Emerald Island Casino, Las Vegas, on the lifting of mask mandates for casinos
“We will not be checking vaccination status.”
—Katie Silva, spokeswoman, Peppermill Casino in Reno, Nevada, on the lifting of mask mandates for vaccinated casino patrons
“We’re looking at one of our biggest summer seasons. We have the most entertainment events that we’ve ever had in Deadwood so putting sports wagering on top of that is the icing on the cake for us.”
—Mike Rodman, executive director, Deadwood Gaming Association, on the impending launch of sports betting in South Dakota
“We want a free market, but not the Wild, Wild West.”
—Nathan Manning, Ohio State Senator, on a provision in the state’s sports betting bill that lets non-gaming businesses like Ford to obtain a license
“For tennis to really take off, you’d need a big American superstar, like what golf had with Tiger Woods.”
—John Murray, executive director of operations, Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas, on what tennis needs to increase the handle
