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Gov. Sisolak Extends Nevada’s 25% Casino Occupancy Limit for Another Month
By Jeff Osienya Dec 14, 2020 IndustryCasinos and other non-essential businesses in Nevada to continue taking in patrons at a 25% capacity limit for four more weeks as the state continues to fight a spike in COVID-19 infections.Casinos in Sin City have been fighting to stay afloat since they resumed operations since the state’s Coronavirus restrictions were relaxed in June. Even though business hasn’t yet hit the pre-pandemic levels, casinos in Nevada were already getting back to their feet, with many of them showing strong signs of recovery despite the occupancy limits that had been placed.
Aside from measures such as social distancing on casino floors, restricting the number of active machines in casino lobbies, among other pandemic-induced precautions, it is the occupancy limits that had the most impact on the operations of gaming establishments. It started with 50% occupancy restrictions in June when casinos were allowed to reopen and just when everyone was hoping for the lifting of occupancy limits last month, things took a sour turn and the state Governor instead cut down the occupancy rate to 25%.
This 25% occupancy limit for casinos and other non-essential business was supposed to be an interim response as a result of an increased rate of COVID-19 infections in the Silver State. The original plan was to relax the restrictions after a three-week period. But now, Governor Sisolak has decided to extend the restriction, keeping the traffic in gaming facilities at less than 50 people or a quarter of the normal capacity, whichever number of occupants is lower.
The Silver State to Review the 25% Occupancy Limit for Non-Essential Businesses Mid-January
For the Sunday briefing of Gov. Steve Sisolak, the renewed 25% occupancy limit order will now be effective for 1 more month, until 15th January 2021. Part of the governor’s statement read;
Quote“I know the mitigation restrictions in place under the current ‘pause’ are devastating to many Nevadans who just want to go back to ‘normal,’ who are worried about their jobs, their businesses, keeping their homes and getting their kids back to school. But as I’ve said for nine months now, we must do what we can to protect the health and safety of the public. That remains more important than ever as we experience these record numbers.
As always, we will be monitoring and evaluating our current situation day-by-day and week-by-week. We’ll remain under the current restrictions for now, with the goal of getting through the next month.”
Before Gov. Sisolak’s Sunday bombshell, a lot of industry players were looking forward to Tuesday, the 15th of December, when the short-term quarter limit was supposed to be reevaluated. Gaming sector experts were expecting the 50% limit to be back whereas some more optimistic observers were hoping for the governor to do away with the occupancy restrictions altogether – after all, tribal casinos in some states are operating as normal after a short Covid-19 break.
A Gift to the Casino Industry in the Silver State
As tough as things may be for Nevada’s gaming sector – which is the backbone of the state’s economy, industry representatives were generally supportive of the renewed measures. While some prominent gaming leaders were critical of the governor’s decision, the general feeling was a sigh of relief as it isn’t a total shutdown as is the case for states like Pennsylvania.
It’s worth noting that Gov Sisolak wasn’t oblivious of the fact that gaming is what keeps the state alive when he was addressing the state on Sunday. However, he wasn’t too concerned about the gaming stocks and company executives, stating that;
Quote“When I think of the gaming industry, I am not losing sleep at night because I’m worried about their stock prices or whether gaming executives are going to make it through the pandemic and be able to keep a roof over their heads.”
From his speech, the governor’s mind was on the hundreds of thousands of casino staffers and how they would be affected by another complete lockdown which in turn would also cost the state at least $52 million in monthly gaming revenue. The way Gov. Sisolak sees it, maintaining the 25% limit was a gift to the gaming sector when compared to a total shutdown which would instead hurt the bottom line of the ‘only big industry’ in the state.
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