Casino firms discussing post-coronavirus possibilities for Las Vegas

Representatives for some of the largest casino operators in the United States are reportedly holding informal meetings in order to discuss possible ways to re-open Las Vegas to gamblers following the conclusion of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

According to a report from the Bloomberg news service, these deliberations regarding the nation’s top casino destination have examined whether officials should allow smaller businesses located just off of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip to re-open first so as to get the local population back to work.

Testing track:

The news service reported that all gambling venues in Nevada are to remain shuttered until at least the end of the month with the executives said to have also mulled over whether to establish facilities that would allow casino workers and even some tourists to get tested for the potentially-lethal coronavirus strain.

Supplementary schemes:

Bloomberg reported that further floated ideas have included the possibility of re-opening Las Vegas casinos with as little as one-third of their hotel rooms available, screening guests for elevated temperatures, requiring all employees to wear masks and gloves and instituting increased distances between positions at blackjack tables.

Cleanliness call:

Coronavirus has now killed 28,640 people across the United States while the casino executives have reportedly moreover discussed whether to bow to local union requests by instituting a range of enhanced cleaning techniques. Geoconda Arguello-Kline from the Local 226 branch of the Culinary Workers Union purportedly told the news service that venues ‘have to have more people’ to ensure that areas frequented by players and guests are ‘more clean.’

Arguello-Kline reportedly told Bloomberg…

“We’re asking the companies to have more cleaning everywhere; the rooms and the casino with special teams to work with new chemicals.”

Gubernatorial grace:

Las Vegas’ casino market is controlled by a handful of operators encompassing the likes of MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands Corporation, Wynn Resorts Limited and Caesars Entertainment Corporation. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak purportedly ordered these firms to shutter their facilities for 30 days on March 18 before later extending this shutdown through to April 30.

Reportedly read a statement from Sisolak…

“This is not going to be a political decision for me, as for when to open. I don’t have an exact number. I’ll take a lot of advice from our medical folks and determine what’s in the best interests of keeping all Nevadans safe.”