Nevada casinos to abandon coronavirus-related restrictions from Tuesday

All of the over 460 casinos in the western American state of Nevada are reportedly set to be permitted to fully re-open with no coronavirus-related restrictions from the early hours of Tuesday.

According to a Wednesday report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper, the move from the Nevada Gaming Control Board regulator comes approximately two weeks after almost 30 casinos in an around the gambling hotspot of Las Vegas were allowed to forego capacity restrictions and return to full throttle operations.

Diminishing danger:

The newspaper reported that the policy change is set to become official after the clock strikes midnight on Tuesday morning, which will coincide with the conclusion of the United States’ three-day Memorial Day holiday period, to allow every casino in Nevada to forgo state-issued capacity and social distancing protocols put in place so as to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Although ‘The Silver State’ has chalked up 5,570 deaths associated with the pandemic since March of last year, only 106 of these have occurred in the last 26 days as associated infections rates continue to fall owing to the widespread embrace of vaccinations.

Cautious cancellation:

Brin Gibson serves as Chairman for the Nevada Gaming Control Board and he reportedly used an official Wednesday notice to disclose that casino licensees will be able to abandon state-mandated capacity and social distancing restrictions from June 1. However, be purportedly proclaimed that gambling-friendly venues will still be obligated to follow their ‘respective county’s general capacity and occupancy limitations and social distancing requirements’ as laid out in each jurisdiction’s ‘local plan.’

Revellers returning:

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the policy change was announced just days before thousands of tourists are expected to flood into Las Vegas for the purpose of celebrating Memorial Day, which marks the unofficial start to summer. Nonetheless it explained the Nevada Gaming Control Board is due to continue enforcing existing coronavirus-related social distancing and capacity restrictions until Tuesday as the state is still dealing with approximately 17,400 official coronavirus infections.

Massachusetts move:

The newspaper reported that the Nevada move was revealed the same day as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission unanimously voted to rescind a range of analogous coronavirus-related orders from Saturday morning. Nevertheless, the Chair for the Massachusetts regulator, Cathy Judd-Stein, purportedly asserted that her body was still asking the MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and slots-only Plainridge Park Casino facilities to report positive cases to its Investigations and Enforcement Bureau and their respective local health boards.

Reportedly read a statement from Judd-Stein…

“It’s been 15 months since the Massachusetts Gaming Commission convened with all three casino licensees in a virtual setting to discuss the rapid reach of the coronavirus pandemic. The three gaming licensees have cooperated fully throughout this process, working always to serve the public’s interests and protect their patrons and employees.”