Aquarius for the afternoon and evening

As much as we didn't want to go to a casino before we get the vaccine, the isolation blues finally got the best of us. My wife and I were impressed with the covid mitigation they've implemented at Aquarius. Masking is a real priority. My wife said a drink server told a smoker that he had to properly wear his mask in order to be served a drink. All the employees remind people to wear their masks properly. In the Cafe Aquarius they're adhering to the 25% occupancy mandate. Our host asked if we would like to have a meal, but I told her that we don't feel comfortable eating in. She said we could get it to take out. When we got to the cafe we felt that the distancing measures were such that we could safely eat in. The Aquarius has the best video poker in Laughlin and better than most casinos in Las Vegas. They put the better machines in the two nonsmoking sections. The best machines (optimum play 100% +) are in the smoking section. The nonsmoking section on the river side (east end) encompasses the sports book and slot club. There weren't very many players in that no smoking section and we felt relatively safe.Actually, the whole casino had far less players than I expected because Tuesday is a multiple point day. They put plexiglass between the machines, but some are still turned off. There is hand sanizer all over the casino floor. Both wipes and liquid spritzers. They have dedicated staff that only wipe down machines and high contact areas. With their strict masking enforcement, abundant hand sanitizer and social distancing measures we felt safer there than in our grocery stores. We won't ever return to pre-covid visitation until vaccinations. However, it was nice to see their covid transmission mitigation measures in case we get the isolation blues again before vaccination.

I heard that they had simply taken out all their Optimum Play machines. Are they still there, and if so, where?

They're by the Panda Express. My wife played them last night. I only play in the nonsmoking areas. There are only 5 left.

Multiple point days at the Aquarius? Something new?

You are right on that isolation blues is real.  Glad you had a good visit at the Aquarius.   Thanks for reporting.

Candy

Don, They have multiple points on Tuesday and Thursday in January. They've had up to four multiple point days including Friday and Saturday prior months. Minimum is 2x points for lowest two tiers with 3x, 4x  and 5x for the three highest tiers. They have been going between Monday and Wednesday one month and Tuesday and Thursday the next month. They post the days on their website.

Candy, the nicest thing about those blues is that we felt safer in the casino than our grocery stores. We won't go again, unless we just can't stand it, until we get the vaccine. In Mohave County AZ we're in 1c with no vaccine in sight. The county heath department couldn't be doing a worse job of rolling out the vaccine.

In Bullhead City and surrounding areas (not Laughlin), what's mask compliance been like? I would suspect poor, because Republicans wear masks much less often than Democrats (as numerous polls have shown), and Mohave county is extremely red. Also, the local politics may have had something to do with vaccine distribution, as perhaps even some highly placed officials may still think that Covid is a liberal hoax.

As much of Mohave County is snowbird and/or retirement communities, you'd think they'd prioritize getting the vaccine to people. But if nobody believes in it in the first place...

Kevin, we live in Golden Valley between Kingman and Bullhead. Masking is not mandated in any of the cities or unincorporated areas of the county. Stores won't endanger employees by making them enforce their masking policies. They all have signage stating that masks must be worn, but.....I'm estimating that masks are worn by 90% of people in the stores so that's not a great thing. The Aquarius has 100% compliance with some needing to be reminded from time to time. That's why we felt safer there than our grocery stores.

Rich

That's disappointing that there are people who still won't wear masks and that the local government doesn't have the balls to impose and enforce a mask mandate. I know Mojave County is Trumper Land, but when you don't make rules and enforce them, people die. That's why Mojave County's cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are skyrocketing right now. It's such a shame that so many people equate no-masking with Trump loyalty.

FWIW, I discovered the joy of online grocery ordering and delivery some time ago--back in March, in fact, as I felt very apprehensive about going to the store and trying to dodge all the no-maskers (I, too, live in a Trumper town). The local chain offers free delivery on all orders $50 and up, and free curbside pickup for smaller orders. I don't have to go into the virus cloud to get my groceries at all.

Perhaps one of the larger stores in Kingman offers curbside pickup, at least? If there's a WalMart in town, they probably have a decent grocery selection and would definitely offer curbside pickup.

I been using the Walmart curbside pick up (they have a designated parking area) for the past three months, and now refer to it as the crack cocaine of shopping.  I'm hooked.

Orders must be $35 plus, and it's free.  They do a great job, and have dropped the stuff in my trunk within 5 minutes of my arrival each time, although usually faster.  The phone app is slick and the program is efficient.