Casino Reopening Memo Issued by Nevada Gaming Control Board Without Restart Date

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 04/26/2020

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Nevada Las Vegas sign, Photo by © tookapic from Pixabay

The Nevada Gaming Control Board issued a six-page memo that clearly outlines the procedures to be followed for reopening the state’s casinos. The memo, however, didn’t mention a date that the casinos would be back to running the business as usual.

The memo outlines dealing with issues such as reinstating fired or laid off employees, as well as ways of handling the reopening sections of the state’s casinos. The decision regarding the date of restarting casinos in the state is to be made by Governor Steve Sisolak.

Logistical relief is offered in the memo for reopening casinos

Returning to business from the coronavirus pandemic necessitates greater clarity on issues relating to casino operations. According to the memo, former employees can be registered by casinos within one day if the employees lost their jobs due to the pandemic. The re-hired employees can work up to 30 days while anticipating the renewal of their registrations.

Several other points in the memo address logistical obstacles. Filings that are required are now due within 30 days of authorization of the reopening by Governor Steve Sisolak. The casino requirement of cash on hand is also to be waived for at least a week upon authorization of gaming.

The memo contains 18 points that form a minimum list of the requirements that need to be taken into consideration when casinos plan their reopening, and this must be sent to the gaming authorities one week in advance (minimum) from when the venue plans to begin operations. According to the memo, these procedures outlined are not all-encompassing, and decisions about any other steps need to be made individually, after consulting the Board.

The memo also requires licensees verifying several other entities form the state and local government so that compliance can be ensured as per the specific requirements for the reopening of each. It also requires that licensees comply with the local, state, as well as federal coronavirus health requirements prescribed.

Governor and Mayor don’t see eye to eye on casino reopening

The date of reopening has become a hot topic of debate as Governor Steve Sisolak isn’t prepared to reopen any non-essential businesses in the state. According to Governor Sisolak, the situation may look good currently in Nevada, but they’re not out of danger yet.

Gov. Sisolak stated:

Experience gleaned from other countries teaches us that we cannot flip the light switch and turn our lives or our economy back on too quickly… We still have a responsibility to protect people and to protect our economy.

Mayor of Las Vegas, Carolyn Goodman, seems to have a different opinion. In an interview with Anderson Cooper from CNN, Goodman said that she wanted Las Vegas to serve as a placebo, allowing business operations to return as usual, so that data could be gathered and a comparison could be drawn with those areas continuing to practice stay-at-home orders.

The memo issued by the Nevada Gaming Control Board acknowledges that for casinos to be able to reopen and continue their business as usual, both Sisolak and Goodman will be required to weigh-in on the matter.