When will tourists once again be allowed to walk the Strip in search of high-end shops, loose slots, and gourmet food? When will the COVID-19 lockdown end?
Caesars Entertainment, owner of nine hotels and casinos in this entertainment and gambling mecca, can not tell us when that will happen; that decision is up to the governor and state gambling officials who are in control of the lockdown orders.
But on May 21, Caesars granted a sneak preview of what tourists can expect when Las Vegas finally reopens.
Caesars has chosen not to reopen all of their properties at once, but will first welcome back guests to the Flamingo Las Vegas and Caesars Palace.
“Reopening Las Vegas in a synchronized manner will be a huge milestone for Caesars Entertainment as the country continues to come out from this closure period,” commented Tony Rodio, CEO of Caesars Entertainment.
Both the Flamingo and Caesars Palace will book hotel rooms, open up dining and access to the swimming pools, and of course, the slot machines and table games.
One unexpected perk to come out of the shutdown, all self-parking will be free at Caesars properties on the Strip.
LINQ and Harrah’s will open next
Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, as well as the gaming floor at LINQ Hotel and Casino, will open next. The exact timing of those openings will be based on customer demand.
The High Roller Observation Wheel as well as a few dining and retail outlets within the LINQ Promenade are also anticipated to reopen.
Unfortunately, there will be no bars, shows, buffets, spas, or valet parking
Sadly, those iconic Vegas experiences will remain on hold, and when they do come back, there will be new social distancing guidelines. Caesars’ other Las Vegas hotels, casinos, and restaurants are anticipated to open based on customer demand.
Caesars employees will wear masks
Above and beyond continuous cleaning and sanitizing, Caesars will implement a health screening program for workers to determine which employees will be required to test for COVID-19 before returning to work.
Furthermore, temperature checks will be necessary before each shift, and all workers must wear masks provided by Caesars. Guests will also be given masks and vigorously encouraged to use them.
Caesars opens reservations for June 1
Nevada state gaming regulators have not given a date or the go-ahead for rescinding of Governor Sisolak’s shutdown order. However, casino companies have developed reopening plans and many of them are aiming for a June 1 reopening.
However, some Caesars properties are taking reservations beginning on May 29; Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, LINQ, The Cromwell, Bally’s, Paris, Flamingo, and Planet Hollywood.
“Our casinos are starting to reopen across the country,” Caesar’s website says. “The exact date casinos are allowed to reopen varies from state to state and is determined by tribal officials or state government in each individual jurisdiction.”
Casinos will look different
In the wake of the COVID-19 shutdowns, the casino experience in Las Vegas as well as the rest of Nevada will look very different.
Recently, the Nevada Gaming Commission approved the Gaming Control Board’s reopening policies. This lays out the guidelines that the more than 400 small and large casinos around the state must do when the governor’s shutdown orders are lifted.
To start with, the occupancy limit on the gaming floor will be cut in half. Gamblers will only see chairs in front of every other slot machine. Furthermore, gathering in groups, once a tradition of the Las Vegas experience, will be banned. Finally, dealers will offer card players a pump of hand sanitizer between poker hands.
As restaurants reopen in Las Vegas, there will also be many changes. Customers will only be seated in every other booth, and there will be no menus; customers will scan a QR code with their smartphone to see the menu. If you want a printed menu, they’ll print one out for you then throw it away. There will be no seating at the bar, and games will be turned off. Wipes and hand sanitizer will be readily available.
