Las Vegas, Atlantic City Suspending Casinos Amidst COVID-19 Concerns
- Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos are closing due to the coronavirus.
- Casinos nationwide are facing closures, or are proving additional cautionary measures to their guests.
LAS VEGAS — As COVID-19 continues to spread, casinos nationwide are beginning to shut down their operations. Casinos on both Las Vegas and Atlantic City are facing closures.
Other than Las Vegas and Atlantic City, casinos in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Florida have all closed as well. The effect of the virus can be felt all around the legal gambling industry, leaving only online casinos as a viable gaming option.
Las Vegas & Atlantic City Closure
In an attempt to help prevent the coronavirus, casinos in Las Vegas have started to suspend operations. The Wynn Las Vegas was the first to shut down its casino. All MGM Resorts casinos have shut down as well. MGM Resorts is responsible for 13 Vegas Strip properties including:
- Aria
- Bellagio
- Park MGM
- MGM Grand
- Excalibur
- Luxor
- Mandalay Bay
- New York-New York
- Mirage
- Vdara
- NoMad Hotel
- Signature by MGM
- Delano
Caesars Entertainment, however, is remaining open but limiting capacity on their gaming floors, bars, and restaurants.
Atlantic City casinos, however, took a different route. They are on a full lockdown of all hotel and casino properties.
Other Casino Closures
Other than Vegas and Atlantic City, several states nationwide are experiencing multiple casino closures.
The Illinois Gaming Board informed the states 10 casinos to close down for two weeks. Massachusetts has also shut down their casinos. This comes even after Encore Boston Harbor was offering to take people’s temperature’s before they walked in.
The MGM in Maryland followed with their closure as well.
In South Florida, most of their casinos are closed as well. Both the Calder Casino in Miami Gardens and Gulfstream Park in Hallandale have both closed.
The Seminole Hardrock in Hollywood, Florida, however, is remaining open. They have taken cautionary measures by closing their poker room at 7:00 P.M., limiting the number of players on table games, and have shut off machines to create social distancing between players.