Tag: Nevada

Las Vegas Casinos are Back in Business After COVID-19 Hiatus

Posted on by Grant Mahon

Las Vegas casinos are back to business after more than two months. On March 17, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak ordered the shut-down of all non-essential businesses in the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, all of the nearly 140 Las Vegas casinos ended up closed to visitors for nearly three months.

The 2020 Las Vegas lockdown was the only time the entire Strip was shut down since the assassination of JFK. Even in 2017, when the Las Vegas shooting happened, not all casinos and resorts on the Strip decided to shut down.

Las Vegas Casinos Reopen to Public on Thursday

For nearly three months, Las Vegas was a real ghost town. In mid-March, all of Sin City’s casinos closed down, together with bars, restaurants, and even strip clubs. There was one strip club that tried to stay in the business during the lockdown, advertising “coronavirus-free” dancers, but it too had to shut down eventually.

The days of lockdown are finally over in Las Vegas, with casinos starting to reopen as of Thursday, June 4. Business, however, is not as usual. At least, not for the moment being. In order to be allowed to reopen, Las Vegas casinos are required to make some changes.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has issued a plan for casino reopening that every venue needs to adhere to in order to be allowed to operate. Some of the requirements stipulated by this plan include a reduced number of visitors, increased frequency of cleaning, and so on.

Some Casinos Seem to Be Ignoring Social-Distancing Guidelines

Casinos, as well as players, were super-eager to get back to reopen the casino doors. Once that happened on Thursday, the enthusiasm caused people to break some social-distancing rules.

The footage from all over Las Vegas shows that people have been ignoring the new anti-coronavirus rules inside the casinos. Visitors seem to be gathering around in large groups, sitting next to each other while playing slots and other casino games.

The good news, however, is that all the evidence is pointing out that the casino staff has been at top of the game.

Sin City Hopeful of Recuperating from the Crisis

Everyone in Las Vegas seems to be thrilled by the news of casinos reopening. The reason is that the local economy is very reliant on the casino industry. According to the Nevada Resort Association, “no other state depends on tourism at the magnitude as Nevada.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the state, and in particular its biggest city Las Vegas, billions of dollars in damage. So far, it’s estimated that Nevada has lost over $2 billion, with the potential economic damages measured in tens of billions of dollars.

The worst has passed, but now it’s time for the state to get back on its feet. Las Vegas casinos are open once again, but the number of tourists is still very low. The good news is that as the COVID-19 measures are loosening up, the number of visitors is expected to go upwards dramatically.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Nevada Casinos to Reopen June 4 Unless COVID-19 Cases Go Up Over the Weekend

Posted on by Grant Mahon

As confirmed by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on Friday, Nevada casinos are to reopen June 4 if everything goes according to plan. The only condition is that the number of COVID-19 cases does not go up dramatically during Memorial Day weekend.

Sisolak will hold a news conference next week to confirm the decision to reopen Nevada casinos. The Governor is waiting for the stamp of approval from the health officials. If approved, the casinos in Las Vegas and other parts of Nevada will be able to go back to business after nearly three months.

Nevada Casinos to Reopen After Nearly Three Months

Sisolak ordered casinos to lock their doors to customers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on March 17. Since then, Las Vegas has turned into a real ghost town.

Apart from the eerie atmosphere of one of the most vibrant cities in the country, the COVID-19 lockdown caused many other problems. Its impact on the local economy is measured in billions of dollars.

According to a study by AmericanGaming.org, the pandemic has cost the casino industry more than $43 billion dollars, with over 650,000 employees ending up jobless during the lockdown.

Social Distancing Measures in Las Vegas Casinos

Casino owners and employees alike are eager to get back to the job, hoping the gambling business in Nevada will come back to life on June 4. The business will be far from normal, however. At least in the beginning.

Nevada’s plan for casinos reopening implies that the casinos will have to take some serious measures in order to be allowed to go back to work. For instance, casino personnel might be required to do temperature checks on the visitors before letting them in.

Furthermore, all casinos will have to reduce the number of visitors to achieve social distancing. For that, they will have to reduce the number of seats in table games.

As a result, roulette tables that used to have 15+ seats will now have fewer than ten. Craps tables will have about five-six seats. Baccarat tables? No more than four. Blackjack? Three seats.

Nevada Gamblers Curious About Online Casinos

In mid-March, Google Trends recorded a huge increase in search volume for terms like “online casino.”

Nevada Casino Google Searches
Google Trends screenshot

Casino-related searches in Nevada peaked around March 17, which is when Gov. Sisolak ordered the closure of Nevada casinos. A day before, the White House had asked Americans to stay home for a period of two weeks to prevent the spread of the novel virus.

Google shows that Nevada residents have been interested in internet gambling during the lockdown. However, despite their interest, they haven’t been able to actually play any real-money casino games on the internet. At least not without breaking the state laws on gambling.

The thing is that Nevada does not belong to the category of states where online casinos are legal. At the moment, there are only three states where internet gambling is possible – New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.

Ex-MGM Resorts CEO to Lead Nevada’s Coronavirus Task Force

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • COVID-19 prompts Nevada to shut down casinos and set up a relief task force
  • Former MGM CEO Jim Murren appointed head of the task force
  • Murren’s expertise will help contain the outbreak, Nevada Gov. Sisolak says

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the now-retired MGM CEO Jim Murren has been selected for the job of heading the coronavirus relief effort in Nevada.

MGM’s Former Number One at the Helm of Nevada’s COVID-19 Task Force

Jim Murren will be leading the newly established COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force, announced Governor Steve Sisolak this Sunday afternoon, following the closure of Nevada’s casino for 30 days. According to Gov. Sisolak, the experience that Murren has in a handful of industries will help Nevada’s healthcare system and ultimately lead to containing the outbreak.

Murren became a part of MGM in 2008 and for the past 12 years as CEO. It wasn’t long after his retirement in February that he was appointed a head of the new task force. Gov. Sisolak noted that Murren’s position is unpaid, voluntary and due to start straight away.

Murren’s first job on the list will be to allocate/source all of the useful assets from the private sector that can help in the fight with the coronavirus.

Considering Murren’s vast experience and contacts in Asia and the Middle East, it is expected from him to greatly help Nevada. Murren took part in a COVID-19 tourism industry round table with President Donald Trump and other White House leaders early in March so the announcement of Sisolak came at the right moment.

Gov. Sisolak noted that Murren will help the state receive the needed personal protection equipment, COVID-19 test kits and other essential supplies that the federal government cannot source currently. Sisolak also added: “Jim Murren can open doors that otherwise, I, as governor, can’t open up,”.

Some in Nevada Has Its Doubts About Addressing the Outbreak

Nevada state reaction was mixed as Jon Ralston, an old-timer editor and reported of The Nevada Independent questioned why a gaming insider such as Murren was picked. Ralston deemed that Gov. Sisolak was handling the crisis quite well so far but did note on Twitter that his announcement can face a bit of criticism.

Driven by fear of spreading the virus, states ordered the closing of many businesses and casinos. A lot of US leagues canceled their entire seasons or banned their fans from watching the games live, in person.

MGM did not stand idle by and took action to close all of its Strip casinos in Vegas. Only a few days after this decision, on Thursday, Sisolak ordered a state shut down for 30 days of all gambling establishments.

Murren noted that “There’s nothing more important right now than helping our state and each other through this crisis”. He continued with: “When we defeat this pandemic, I am confident that our state will come roaring back, as we have from the great hardships of the past.”

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

William Hill and Penn National Team up in Nevada

Posted on by Aran Malik
  • William Hill and Penn National Gaming are about to launch sports betting offer in M Resort Spa Casino
  • Regulatory approval from the NGCB still needed
  • William Hill continues to expand its footprint in Nevada and the US

William Hill and Penn National Gaming have been working together on a number of properties. The latest initiative between the two companies features the M Resort Spa Casino in Nevada. Following an expansion of their existing partnership in 2018, the companies are prepared to work together for the future of the property.

William Hill to Take Control Over M Resort Spa Casino in Nevada

Nevada’s M Resort Spa Casino is located Henderson, not so far from the Mecca of all Western gambling, Las Vegas. The property is about to get even more attractive with William Hill now awaiting regulatory approval to take control over the property’s sports and race books, adding distinct options for sports fans.

William Hill Promises Stronger Profits by 2023

William Hill and Penn National will be launching in May, hoping to provide customers with land-based wagering options as well as live betting and William Hill’s own authentic mobile betting solutions.

With the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) going through the deal and should they clear it, as expected, William Hill will deploy its expertise to provide M Resort Spa Casino with the fetching sports betting that will bring it more customers.

Commenting at the prospect of expanding with M Resort, William Hill US CEO, Joe Asher, had the following to say:

We are excited to expand our partnership with our friends at Penn National to operate the sports book at The M. It is a fabulous property, serving the Henderson and Southern Highlands areas, as well as guests from out of town, and we look forward to bringing our market-leading product to these customers.

William Hill and Penn National Gaming have been working together since August 2018 in a bid to expand their partnership and introduce William Hill’s award-winning sports betting product to Penn’s land-based properties.

It has been part of William Hill’s strategy in the United States to expand by partnering with esteemed brands and land-based properties across the USA. Penn National owns gaming venues in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

With all of these states looking into sports betting and expansion option for 2019, William Hill is well-poised to leverage its expertise and expand into important markets. Despite a small dip in the company’s financial performance, William Hill is well on schedule to achieve a double-digit growth.

Aran Malik

“Magic Malik”—as we like to call him—is not only a tech whiz but a wizard when it comes to getting obscure news hot off the press so we know exactly what’s happening and can explore and report it back to our growing and loyal readerbase.

Willam Hill Now Runs Golden Ent. Betting Operations in Nevada

Posted on by Carmen Thompson
  • William Hill officially adds new Golden Entertainment Properties in Nevada
  • The British operator continues to expand across the United States
  • Should Iowa legalize sports betting, Will Hill could be the first operator to expand across the state.

William Hill is moving forward with its expansion in the United States. After scouting out new opportunities in Iowa, the operator secured its position in Nevada with yet another auspicious partnership with Golden Entertainment.

William Hill and Golden Entertainment Dominate Sports Betting

Back in October 2018, William Hill and Golden Entertainment entered into partnership, eyeing new opportunities for growth and securing their respective businesses. What better way than pooling efforts?

It’s official, and William Hill and Golden Entertainment are going to help each other’s betting operations. Officially, William Hill will be taking care of several Golden Ent. properties across Nevada leveraging its expertise. William Hill is currently overseeing the following properties:

  • Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin
  • Arizona Charlie’s Boulder
  • Arizona Charlie’s Decatur

Another property is in the works which will be arriving later in March at The STRAT hotel. Meanwhile, William Hill is quite familiar with Golden and the company has been operating various kiosks for it.

Estimated 80 kiosks are run by William Hill but originally owned by Golden Ent. This includes third-party operators that are running the activities independently from casinos and sportsbooks.

William Hill U.S. CEO Joe Asher was happy with the latest partnership between the companies, commenting:

The addition of the four new casino resorts marks an exciting new chapter in our relationship with Golden Entertainment. We look forward to working together to offer sports fans an amazing experience for many years to come in Nevada and elsewhere as opportunities arise.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Golden Entertainment Chief Operating Officer Steve Arcana who had the following to add:

We are excited to continue expanding our relationship with William Hill, which has a proven sports wagering platform not only in Nevada but around the world. We look forward to growing our business in Nevada and other jurisdictions through this partnership.

William Hill’s footprint in the United States is strong. While the operator is still committed to Europe and the United Kingdom, the toughening regulation at home has incentivized William Hill to seek a more diverse portfolio around the world.

More interestingly, the company teamed up with the Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino to provide sports betting opportunities in the United States, even though there was no indication that Iowa might soon have a legalized industry.

This might be about to change with a new bill that was introduced just this week and endorsed by Senator Roby Smith.

Carmen Thompson

Carmen is our residential reporter always on the move and hunting down the latest scoops and rumours to explore. Nothing gets past her keen nose, especially when it comes to some serious Jelly Bean poker tournaments.

Wynn Wins Temporary Extension on Report Confidentiality

Posted on by Grant Mahon
  • Steve Wynn’s report remains confidential for the time being
  • Ruling judge Elizabeth Gonzalez will announce further hearings on January 11
  • The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) will meet on January 10 to discuss the case

A Nevada’s judge has decided against the release of a report describing the misconduct of former Wynn CEO Steve Wynn.

Steve Wynn Wins in Court, Keeps Report Private

Steve Wynn, the defamed casino mogul, has won a court case against the Massachusetts gaming regulator and will prevent the information collated in a special report over his alleged sexual misconduct from leaking to the press, at least for the time being. Mr. Wynn’s case argued that it was “privileged information” and as such it was off limits for anyone but the court to see.

On Friday, Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez in Nevada said that Mr. Wynn was entitled to discretion, ruling in his favor against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC). The regulator had prepared a report looking into both Mr. Wynn and the company he used to chair.

Wynn Sues Genting Vegas for Copyright Infringement and More

The report focused on establishing how much Wynn executives knew about Mr. Wynn’s sexual harassment practices. The report also affected the company’s chances of procuring a license to operate an ambitious new project. The Encore Boston Harbor is worth $2.5 billion and it’s going live in June, that is if the MGC clears it for opening. This is in fact one of the key reason why Steve Wynn stepped down from his position.

Back to the report itself, Steve Wynn has repeatedly said that the information in the report must be kept private as per the attorney-client confidence agreement. The information contained in the document could also potentially leave Mr. Wynn vulnerable to unrelated lawsuits.

A Favorable Ruling – For Now

Upon examining the report, Ms. Gonzalez said that she would extend the ban on revealing the information of the report, leaving the defense and prosecutors to carry on with additional filings by January 25. Meanwhile, Ms. Gonzalez is expected to speak on January 11 and announce how the case will proceed in future.

At the same time, the MGC will also have a meeting on January 10 during which it will consider again the Wynn license. One of the dangers for the company is that the MGC may decided to revoke the company’s gaming license, costing it billions and inflicting a heavy blow to it.

Of course, such a decision will trigger multiple lawsuits which the state and MGC must be prepared to handle at the same time. However, if it turns out that Wynn executives knew about the ongoing harassment by Mr. Wynn, then it would seem like the watchdog would have a very serious reason not to OK a gambling license.

Grant Mahon

Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.