Las Vegas Casinos Faces a Threat of Tighter Capacity Limits

With the second phase of the COVID – 19 Pandemic beginning to take the plunge and slowly gulping the countries all over the world again, many businesses all over the globe trying to stand up are again tumbling from this turbulence, and one such type of business is of Casino Business across the global market.

Now many Casinos in Las Vegas, United States, are trying to bounce back in business from the first phase of the Coronavirus Pandemic hit as well as from the shutdown of operations due to lockdown and restrictions; But at this crucial juncture of business due to commencement of the coronavirus second phase, Nevada, United States government to control the phase is imposing new rules of limiting the maximum occupancy at the place of business to just 25% of the total capacity, which even lesser from the previously permitted occupancy limit of 50% of the full capacity.

As per these new rules, all businesses will have to follow this new restriction imposed to have early control over the phase. However, some essential businesses like Grocery Stores will be allowed to run at 50% capacity limits. On the other hand, business venues like restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, casinos, gyms, and health centers like yoga, aerobics, etc., will compulsorily have to comply with the new capacity restrictions.

Furthermore, baring to the gravity of the situation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have requested that citizens not travel for Thanksgiving. Likewise, many other states have also imposed similar limitations on the size/capacity and nature of private as well as public gatherings; For example, Nevada Governor – Steve Sisolak has set out a Capacity limiting rule for public gatherings to no more than 50 people, or 25% of the space capacity, whichever is less and for private gatherings to just ten people with masks as a mandated.

However, coming back specifically to the limitations imposed on the Business of Casinos, it can be seen that the new rules and restrictions can be considered as New Threat to Recovery for the said business or industry. The new limitations are as follows -:

• The new rules of limiting the maximum occupancy at the place of business to just 25% of the total capacity.
• Add on to it; now, the Casino business operators will adhere to curfew timing and dining after 10 p.m., i.e., closure of their businesses after 10 p.m. every day.

Further, the government has instructed the casinos to comply with these new rules and regulations for three weeks.

As a result of all this, the casinos are losing their business income. Consequentially they are laying off their employees, e.g., MGM Resorts International is additionally laying off 400 more employees after firing 18,000 Las Vegas employees in August. Many more casinos such as Caesars Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, and Wynn Resorts are doing the same thing.