Two Las Vegas Casinos Might Remain Shut Until Next Year

By Mike J. Davies Editor in Chief at Casinos.US Updated: 07/15/2020

Mike J. Davies Editor in Chief at Casinos.US See Full Bio

Mike is our Senior Editor and experienced gambling strategist. A former hockey player, he transitioned to the casino industry after finishing his B.A. in English. Blackjack systems, online casino guides, gambling terms, and more – Mike is familiar with all fine points of gambling.

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Since June 4th, casinos across Nevada have been gradually reopening after a three-month hiatus resulting from the COVID-19 global pandemic. The state governor, Steve Sisolak, finally gave the go-ahead for casinos to open in the first week of June. However, while many have now reopened with strict new measures in place, it appears that two casinos may remain shuttered until next year.

According to reports, the two casinos, Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho in North Las Vegas, may not open for another year. The two properties are owned by Station Casinos, which has already reopened many of its other properties in the area. However, it has been revealed that the group has asked the North Las Vegas City Council to make changes to the licenses for these two casinos.

Casinos May Remain Closed Until June 2021

While no official statement has been made yet by Station Casinos regarding the two closed casinos, there is speculation that the two properties may remain closed until June 2021.

It is reported that Station Casinos has written to North Las Vegas City Council and has asked the council to:

Move their non-restricted gaming, non-restricted gaming liquor, and full liquor licenses to non-operational through June 4, 2021.

It is further reported that the reason given for this request is “uncertain economic conditions in the state of Nevada.”

Given the length of time that the casino group wants the licenses suspended for in relation to the two casinos, many are now assuming that it will be June next year when they reopen.

Station Casinos also has another two properties that are currently temporarily closed, which are the Palms and Fiesta Henderson. No further details have yet been provided regarding when these casinos may reopen.

Challenges with New Restrictions and Measures

Many casinos across Nevada have struggled with regard to the new measures and restrictions that have been put into place as a result of the global pandemic. While Steve Sisolak gave the go-ahead for casinos to reopen on June 4th, this was with strict new measures in place to help protect both employees and patrons.

The new way of operating at casinos is very different compared to before the pandemic. Casinos now have to operate at a fraction of their previous capacity, which creates financial challenges. In addition, there are strict new measures relating to cleaning and sanitization, social distancing, and the wearing of personal protective equipment by employees and patrons.

On top of this, casinos have taken a huge financial hit over recent months due to being forced to close. The pandemic resulted in casinos across the state being forced to close their doors in mid-March and remain closed for close to three months.

Although no reason has been given for the Station Casinos properties remaining closed, some believe it may be a combination of these challenges. In addition to having lost money, casinos have to cope with lower revenue due to reduced capacity, and they must spend more money on implementing and maintaining new safety measures.