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Nevada Governor Imposes New 25% Occupancy Limit for Casinos
By Jeff Osienya Nov 23, 2020 IndustryTo mitigate the surge in new Coronavirus infections in Nevada, Gov Sisolak has introduced tighter 25% occupancy restrictions for gaming facilities and dining areas. The new restrictions will take effect on Tuesday, and are to last for at least 3 weeks.Commercial casinos in Nevada are bracing themselves for the impact of the newly imposed restrictions in the state after reports of increased Coronavirus infections across the state. In the wake of the recent spike in the threat of the novel virus, Governor Steve Sisolak has moved to cut down the occupancy rates for casinos and their bars and restaurants to 25% from the initial 50% limitation in place since May. When announcing the new restrictions for the state on Sunday in a press conference, Sisolak said that;
Quote“Our public health infrastructure is quickly becoming overwhelmed, …Whether you believe in the science of COVID or not, the reality is this - COVID is filling up our hospital beds, and that threatens all Nevadans… Our case rate growth is at a wildfire level — even outpacing neighboring states, such as Arizona. All available models indicate that Nevada is in a ‘red zone’ and our health experts anticipate continued case growth based on current trends.”
While this may be a blow to the entertainment and recreation-driven state economy, analysts are confident that Nevada’s economy will stay standing. Given that it’s not a fully-fledged lockdown as was the case back in March when the industry plunged into pandemic-induced chaos, the economic situation won’t be as drastic as it was back then.
New Casino Restrictions to Take Effect on Tuesday
On top of reducing the casino occupancy limits to 25%, Gov. Sisolak also imposed a broader directive for face coverings, social distancing measures, and prohibitions on service without reservations across the Silver State for the next three weeks. When explaining the tighter measures for hotels, restaurants, and dining areas, Sisolak said;
Quote“… I know the majority of our bars and restaurants are doing their best, but these settings are proven to be high risk because they allow the opportunity for people to remove their face coverings in indoor settings around people outside of their household, that’s how the virus spreads.”
The 25% occupancy limit and the accompanying measures will be effective starting Tuesday the 24th of November, a minute past midnight. As he made the announcement, the governor further called for more vigilance and warned that there would be dire consequences for breaching the new regulations once they take effect. As expected, the state’s gaming regulator, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) will be tasked with implementing and enforcing the new safety measures.
The Industry Voices Support for Sisolak’s New Limitations
It’s worth noting that Sisolak has full support from the majority of gaming operators in Nevada who though wary of the impact the restrictions will have on their business, understand that the measures are a necessary and vital precaution. Spokespersons from some of the most dominant brands in Nevada’s gaming hub have acknowledged the significance of the new restrictions and are happy to comply to keep both players and patrons safe. The MGM Resort International, Caesars Entertainment Inc, and Wynn Resorts Limited, for example, have already started making plans to adjust to the new measures as needed.
Brian Gibson, the recently appointed chairperson of the NGCB on the other hand expressed the commission’s readiness to enforce the new restrictions in a bid to fish the state out of the COVID-19 surge. He also released a statement saying that:
Quote“The more successfully Nevada mitigates the current spread of COVID over the next several weeks, the more likely we are to experience a complete return to current gaming floor occupancy percentages at that point”
After the three weeks have passed, Gov. Sisolak and his team will evaluate how well the state has fared and will adjust the measures accordingly, depending on whether the infection rate has increased or reduced.
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