Seventy eight days is a long time for casinos to stay closed, but Las Vegas casinos are hoping they won’t have to stay closed a day longer than that. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has announced a tentative reopening date of June 4, and casino operators are hoping business will come flooding back.
Sisolak will hold a press conference on May 26 to discuss the next phase of reopening Nevada’s economy. The same day, the Nevada Gaming Control Board will be conducting workshops to inform health and law enforcement offers how to handle casino resorts. It’s expected that if the count of new Covid-19 infections continues to decline, Sisolak will give his OK for casinos to re-open the following week.
Virginia Valentine, president and CEO of the Nevada Resorts Association, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that this is “fantastic news.” She added:
“Our members have spent more than two months preparing for this day. They’ve put in place enhanced health and safety plans and protocols … Our members are excited to show off the enhancements they’ve made that preserve the experience while ensuring the well-being of our employees and visitors.”