Back to Wearing Masks Inside Las Vegas Casinos

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 08/09/2021

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Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.

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Back to Wearing Masks

Just a short while after masks were declared as no longer being mandatory in Las Vegas casinos and other settings, there has been a U-turn which means that they now must be worn again. Masks inside casinos were made mandatory during the peaks of the pandemic last year, but just recently many COVID-19 restrictions were lifted by the state.

A couple of months ago, officials from the Gaming Control Board said that while mask wearing was no longer mandatory for patrons, the rules could change. This is now what has happened, with directives that masks must now be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status in a bid to control infection rates.

Emergency Directive Signed by Governor

Last week saw the state governor, Steve Sisolak, signing an emergency directive based on guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new mask mandate came in a matter of days after the CDC recommended that masks were worn in indoor venues where there was a high risk of transmission.

The new regulations making masks mandatory in casinos and other indoor spaces came in on Friday, and it is reported that the emergency directive was:

Consistent with the guidance issued by the CDC, and any subsequent guidance issued by the CDC.

The majority of the counties in Nevada, including Clark County, have a risk of transmission that is considered either substantial or high. Infection rates have been rocketing again, and this has led to new measures being brought in to try and control infection rates and protect people.

The Delta variant, which is highly transmissible, has been blamed for the surge in cases. The state is experiencing around 800 cases per day based on a 14-day moving average. Just a week prior to the latest mandate, employees in Clark County were told they would have to wear masks indoors, but this was not extended to patrons.

Now that infection rates are increasing so rapidly, this has been changed to include visitors, which means that everyone must now once again wear masks on the gaming floor in casinos and other indoor settings.

Many Used to Wearing Masks

Up until May, people visiting casinos in the state had already been wearing masks for many months. In May, those who were fully vaccinated were told they would no longer have to wear masks, but many continued to do so for their own peace of mind and safety.

When mask-wearing was made optional, some stopped wearing their masks although casino employees were told to encourage them to be worn. However, many others carried on wearing them as a precaution, and this means that changes that have now resulted in them having to wear masks again have not made a huge difference to many.

Casino officials said that although it seems like a backward step, it is preferable to go back to wearing masks and keep businesses open than go through the closures that were experienced last year.

The rapid changes in the rules regarding masks could cause confusion for some casinos visitors in the state. However, casinos have been adding new signage to make it clear to patrons that they must now wear their masks again.