Casino operators in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and elsewhere are helping to speed vaccinations among their employees.
Working with lawmakers and public health officials, they’re bringing Covid-19 vaccination centers to jobsites—and even offering rewards to employees who get the jabs.
Beginning Thursday, April 1, Caesars Entertainment Inc. began hosting multiple Covid-19 vaccination events at its Las Vegas resorts. According to the company, Caesars is administering up to 2,000 Pfizer vaccinations per day, free of charge, with a goal of reaching 10,000 this month. Later in the week, Station Casinos and the Venetian announced that vaccinations for their employees would start this week.
Acquired in 2020 by Eldorado Resorts Inc., Caesars is now the world’s largest casino operator, with more than 50 properties in 14 U.S. states, including eight on the Las Vegas Strip. CEO Tom Reeg called employees “the heart of our company,” and said their health and safety have been “a priority for us throughout this tumultuous year.
“As we are committed to finding paths to make Covid-19 vaccines easily accessible, Caesars is fully underwriting the cost of administering the vaccines for all Las Vegas team members, including those on furlough and union members.”
Sean McBurney, regional president of Las Vegas operations for Caesars, said the company is “strongly encouraging our team members to get vaccinated, which is why we are offering them an internal rewards incentive to further support the critical rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine as we continue to work toward our industry’s recovery.”
The type of incentive wasn’t spelled out, but many large companies across the U.S. and around the world are now offering cash bonuses, paid time off and other perks to get workers to roll up their sleeves. The incentive for the companies is abundantly clear—in the case of Caesars, losses from the 2020 shutdowns reached a staggering $2 billion.
In a statement, MGM Resorts spokesman Brian Ahern agreed that vaccinations are a “critically important tool in helping to end the pandemic and accelerate our community’s economic recovery.” In addition to its nine Las Vegas resorts, MGM is also offering vaccinations to workers at its MGM Grand Detroit.
“We’re committed to doing all that we can to help get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible by removing barriers to access and bringing vaccination clinics directly to our employees,” said Ahern.
According to MSN, Wynn Resorts has vaccinated about 3,000 employees at the Encore in Las Vegas. Locals favorite Station Casinos opened permanent medical clinics for employees and their families in December at two of its 10 properties in southern Nevada.
Similar vaccine centers are being made available at gaming halls around the country, big and small.
In New Jersey, hospitality workers have joined the list of people now eligible to receive Covid-19 vaccinations; a megasite at the Atlantic City Convention Center could vaccinate about 25,000 AC casino employees by Memorial Day.
“Getting our local hospitality workers vaccinated is an important part of protecting our community and creating a safe, healthy environment for those who look forward to visiting our region every year,” said Lori Herndon, president and CEO of health care provider AtlantiCare, which is dispensing the vaccines.
Mario Guzman, a father of three who works as a food server at the Borgata, was the first Atlantic City casino worker to get the vaccine on April 1. “I’ve been laid off since March 2020, when the pandemic hit,” Guzman told the Press of Atlantic City. “Thankfully, I will be going back to work at Borgata in June. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to get the vaccine. I’m so happy that I can keep the customers safe and go back to work.”
Patti Cianci, a cocktail server at Bally’s, was right behind Guzman. “The last year has been very challenging for my family,” she said. “I haven’t seen my close family members in almost a year. I’m so grateful that I’m able to get the Covid vaccine today. I am looking forward to getting back to normal and keeping my coworkers and guests safe.”
Union President Bob McDevitt called the coordinated effort “the most substantial community/industry/labor partnership that’s been built in the 25 years that I have been serving as president of Local 54. Atlantic City will be the safest gaming venue in the United States.”
