In Las Vegas, First Casinos Also Close Due To Corona Virus

Gambling enthusiast and tourists woke to dark Vegas casino news as major operators shut down.  The decision came as the city’s leadership seeks ways to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

As of Sunday, Wynn Resorts announced that it will temporarily close their gates to both guests and staff. This is a part of its ongoing efforts to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Gambling giants MGM also issued a statement on Sunday, informing the public that they will close their casinos due to the Coronavirus.

The Covid-19 has triggered the closure of many gambling premises in the affected countries around the globe. However, there are states in the USA where you can legally play online casinos while in quarantine.

Wynn Resort Las Vegas Closed

According to their statement on Sunday, Wynn Resorts will shut all activity as of 6:00 PM on Tuesday, 17th March, 2020.  The cessation will last two weeks, after which the operator will re-evaluate the situation.  As most employees go home for the lockdown, others will remain in the building to secure the facilities. Nevertheless, Wynn and Encore properties promised to pay their employees in full during the closure.

Reports of the closure came a day after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted to close down all the three casinos in the state: Encore, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino. All land-based casino activity was to end by midnight on Sunday.

MGM Shuts Its Doors

On Sunday, MGM affirmed their decision to stop all casino operations beginning Monday, March 16. The hotel would close the same day. In addition, the management will not accept any reservations before May 1.

“It is now clear that this is a public health crisis,” said Jim Murren, CEO of MGM Resorts.  “We will arrange to reopen our resorts as soon as it is safe. We shall continue to support our staff, guests and the community during the closure.”  The company runs several major Las Vegas casinos including The Mirage, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Aria, Excalibur and The Bellagio.

The shutdowns in Las Vegas come just a few weeks after MGM, Wynn and other operators closed their premises in Macau. This is the first time some resorts have completely closed since their launch. As land-based casino rooms go silent, players have no choice but to turn to online casinos for their gaming needs.

Some leaders, including the city’s mayor, are against the lockdown, citing many losses. Mayor Carolyn Goodman has come out strongly against the shutdown, expressing that the city is not well prepared to cushion the 30-day tourism freeze.

“We cannot survive a total shutdown for more than two weeks. We need to live our lives and support our families”, Ms. Goodman said.

Still, giving life to the city are the sparkling waters of the Bellagio fountains and the resorts, which remain illuminated at night. It is the hope of all casino faithful, the staff and the community, that the disease is eradicated, so life can go back to normal.

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