How Will the Casinos Ensure Cleanliness When They Reopen?

What are the casinos doing to ensure that no one will contract the coronavirus when they reopen?

With numerous businesses reopening around the country, including casinos in various jurisdictions, this, along with any number of variations on the theme, is now our most frequently asked question by far.

To answer this version specifically, we'd say there's simply no way a casino can ensure that no one will get sick if it's open to the public and people gather there. The only way casinos, or any other public gathering places, can "ensure that no one will contract the coronavirus when they reopen" is if they don't reopen. If no one can get inside, perforce no one will contract coronavirus or any other illness there.

The question, therefore, is somewhat self-contradictory.

That said, the casinos can take every precaution to provide as safe an environment as physically possible and we believe that they're in the process of doing so -- and not just paying lip service to the niceties for PR purposes. The last thing a casino needs is to be traced back as the locus of a new outbreak of COVID-19. In addition, the Las Vegas casinos are coming under heavy pressure and scrutiny by everyone from the governor and Gaming Control to the Culinary Union to raise cleaning and disinfecting and social standards to a whole new level.

As such, social norms in Macau, where the casinos closed down for 15 days in February, then reopened under strict anti-contagion protocols, will most likely be enforced here: mandatory non-contact temperature checks, masks, and gloves, various forms of distancing, and some high-tech precautions as well.

In addition, protocols were being established and practiced over the week or so between when the World Health Organization declared the pandemic and Governor Steve Sisolak shut everything down.

To wit: hand sanitizer was deployed in force, every other slot machine was disabled and those in operation were cleaned frequently, every other seat at table games were removed and distancing guidelines enforced at crap tables, restaurant tables were separated by six feet or more and bar stools were reduced by half. It's also planned that table-game rails and seats will be sanitized after each player leaves; non-playing patrons will be discouraged from congregating behind players; slot players will be encouraged with signage to sanitize machines before and after play; all gaming apparatus, from dice to shuffle machines, will be frequently cleaned; and floor supervisors will clean all the equipment used in the pit on a regular schedule.

We haven't seen any definitive procedures concerning the disinfecting of cards and chips, but we're sure that they're being considered and discussed. Their cleaning is mandated in the seven-page reopening guidelines issued late last week by Gaming Control.

As for all the other spaces in casino-hotels, they can probably be summed up by a statement from one of the biggest of them all, Venetian/Palazzo. "Preparations for reopening have been made from the arrival experience to the suite experience, from the casino floor to meeting spaces, as well as our restaurants and lounges. The rooms will be beyond clean and all areas of the resort’s operations have been reviewed and a detailed plan is currently in place to address these changes.”

Indeed. The Venetian, which will remain closed at least through May 31, has released a highly detailed plan for keeping guests and employees safe when the doors reopen in June. The protocols start with thermal cameras at every entrance that will check body temperatures of guests and staff; anyone with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees will undergo a secondary screening and be directed to appropriate medical care if necessary. That medical care includes a team of 25 emergency medical technicians, with eight on duty at all times. The suite of any guest who tests positive for COVID-19 will be removed from service and undergo cleaning by a third-party expert. All the suites will come with hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, plus latex gloves and a personal face mask that guests are welcome to wear on property, though masks that hide the entire face won't be allowed. Electrostatic sprayers will apply hospital-grade disinfectant on high-touch surfaces during off-peak hours and UV lights will decontaminate shipments arriving and leaving the resort’s receiving docks, mailroom, and warehouse and will be used on hotel equipment like baggage carts. Employees will undergo COVID-19 safety, sanitation, and response training and will wear protective equipment according to their responsibilities. Finally, only four passengers will be allowed in elevators and on gondolas.

We foresee a certain amount of pushback against some of these measures, at least to start. But we figure it will be a take-it-or-leave-it deal. Potential patrons who don't feel safe, even with the safeguards, won't patronize casinos (and other places) and those who object to the safety buffers will either get used to them or be re-educated by vigilant security.

But one thing we can say with some certainty is this: The casino world will look very different when it opens up than before it shut down.

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Donzack May-07-2020

Smoke free

Looks like this ends smoking in casinos. Any notes on smoking?

David Miller May-07-2020

About time...

 Cleaning casino properties has lagged for years as casinos only did enough with understaffed personnel for decades - just so the shareholders could get their ever escalating profits. Now the casinos will have to maintain proper cleaning and will,of course, charge more for rooms. I expect to see many of the smaller casinos close - they won't pay to keep their locations clean and visitors will not patronize them.

rokgpsman May-07-2020

Other changes

Will be interesting to see what is done for theaters and showrooms. Very popular shows that are often near-sellout like "O" at Bellagio usually have a few thousand in attendance and there is a large crowd of people when they are entering and exiting the theater. Blocking off every other theater seat and row will greatly reduce how many tickets can be sold. The typical Vegas show is about 75 to 90 minutes, that's a lot of exposure time for customers to each other, even with precautions like a face mask. What are they going to do if people move closer together or remove their face mask once the show begins?

mofromto May-07-2020

Expensive

As these measures will add costs to the bottom line, one can expect that the holds on slot machines will be raised to the maximum allowed. I guess my gambling in Las Vegas days are over.

Rick Sanchez May-07-2020

6 months to a year

In 6 months to a year we should have enough info to know if things can go back to normal or if this is going to be a new normal.
If we find out like some of the numbers are saying to be true that a large percentage of the population has the antibodies and we find out that the numbers are more like the annual flu and it we are truly immune, then we will be looking back at this time and saying we "might" have over reacted and should have just let it work its course just like we do the flu.
That being said we had to err on the side of caution and we have to take it slow with opening things up and take extra precautions until we have the full data.

full_monte_carlo May-07-2020

Show rooms

I would imagine that show room seats WOULDN'T need to go to the every other seat. Usually seats are bought in at least pairs. If seats are bought in increments of two or three they should be seated together and then have a seat inbetween

Kevin Lewis May-07-2020

Breathing

If they don't require people to wear masks, then the air will be full of exhaled droplets, any of which could contain the virus. I'll pass--my desire to live outweighs my desire to gamble.

Jackie May-07-2020

@ Rick Sanchez

6 months to a year to have enough info?
Rick we won't have enough info until the death rate hits 0 for two weeks running.  Wise up Rick, this isn't a "flu" it's a killer virus, a WMD, an attack upon the world by China, their third attack, each one deadlier than the former. Many countries are already talking about having China make reparations for this outbreak.  Of course China won't, then what WW III?  70,000+ dead in the US and counting, 15,000 more than died in Vietnam.

Rick Sanchez May-07-2020

Jackie

The flu is a killer virus also.
As for your conspiracy theory crap keep that over in those threads.

O2bnVegas May-07-2020

for rokgpsman

As for monitoring show attendees' compliance, more than once I have seen someone on my row or one in front of me try to take photos (cell phone, etc.) during a show.  Almost instantly an attendant has appeared  to point a finger and shake head, indicating either the person stop or be required to leave.  I suppose they are positioned strategically to take care of this and any other issues.  

As for how many can sit side by side, they may do like the airlines have announced; reducing the number of tickets/humans for each flight/show, making it unnecessary to book middle seats.  But if a family or other wishes sit together in one row (seat or showroom) that will likely be allowed.

Rick Sanchez May-07-2020

Flu Deaths

Jackie,
Where are you on blame for the flu deaths in the years of '14-15 and '17-18 flu seasons? You know both of those seasons had more US deaths than the Vietnam war also.
When it comes to just plain numbers, yes Covid-19 will probably kill more than a normal flu year but the real question is how many had the flu and how many had Covid-19.
The CDC estimates 30-45 Million cases of the flu/yr with a .1-.2% death rate.
Right now we have 1.2 Million "confirmed" cases of Covid and 70k deaths which is a rate of 5.8% which is very high. But there are estimates that between 20 and 25% of the US population might have been infected that is 64-80 million people, "if" those numbers pan out to be true you are talking .1% death rate that is 70k deaths divided by 64M people. If you have a 150k death rate out of 64 million people you still get .23% death rate if only 64m infections .18% if you go on the high end estimate of infections.

Numbers don't lie politicians and MSM do. Wait for the #s

Dorothy Kahhan May-07-2020

Smoke Free

I'm with Donzack.. long past time to end smoking in the casinos. With the requirement to wear masks on property, that would seem to cinch it. I don't see people smoking while wearing a mask.

Adam Cohen May-07-2020

One more factor

I think the other factor is treatment. It might be a bit for a vaccine even though I hope not. But if we can treat it people will open up about going and we can begin to return to normal but until then it will be hard. Another game-changer could be the fast testing. If it can work maybe we test more people and that is your ticket in. A private business can require this

backspace69 May-07-2020

Only 1 issue

The only push back I can see will occur Friday and Saturday. That will be elevator access.
Also, what will happen to the golden knights.
Slot machine removal should be easy. When i used visit Vegas, even on a very busy night, i could always find a slot machine open

Jeff May-07-2020

Reactions to comments

Theatre seating: No one here has mentioned plexiglass. It's popped-up everywhere in stores that are still open. Plexiglass could be used between seats as a partial viral barrier and could be moved around to accommodate individual needs. Plexiglass could be used as dividers between slots or between BJ seats. Imho, plexiglass makers will be one of the winners of the pandemic.

"If we find out [...]  that the numbers are more like the annual flu [...] then we will be looking back at this time and saying we "might" have over reacted"

I agree, but it's more likely that won't be the case.

"[Covid] is a killer virus, a WMD, an attack upon the world by China."

This is what too many summers in Pahrump can do to your brain. Forewarned is forearmed.

"As for your conspiracy theory crap keep that over in those threads"

LVA has done an excellent job keeping the nutjobs quarantined in the "Kitchen Sink." Maybe Anthony Curtis's next gig should be Covid Czar.

Jeff May-07-2020

Reactions to comments 2

"I'll pass--my desire to live outweighs my desire to gamble" 

The open question is how many people desire the casino experience enough to risk serious illness or even death.

People under 40 probably will shrug-off the risk as they may reasonably (or not, the jury is still out)feel the worst would be a bout with the flu. People pushing 60 & above, imo, will stay away in droves, due to what appears to be dramatically worse outcomes for them than for the young & relatively young. Vegas could become a playland for the youthful where pre-virus the aging found a rare spot where they felt welcome & protected. Sad.

"Another game-changer could be fast testing. [... ]maybe we test more people and that is your ticket in"

Temperature checks will miss the many asymptomatic who have active virus. No one is going to submit to having a swab painfully shoved-up their nose every time they enter a casino by God knows who. I'd be as fearful of that process as playing BJ with a sneezing dealer.

Donzack May-08-2020

War comparison

Don’t forget it took Viet Nam 20 years to take 50000 American lives. C19 has only been watched for a few months. Some viruses never get a cure or vaccine. Think about the people that don’t wash their hands in public bathrooms. There’s a good start .  I think the U.S. has done good so far but needs to get back to work or the economy will start killing people.

Jackie May-08-2020

Well, I touched a button or two

To my detractors.
I'm not a conspiracy theorist, facts from WHO and CDC prove out everything I have written.

Numbers of other "flus" and their death ration  doesn't negate the fact that covid-19 is 5 times deadlier than other flus.  BTW those other.

Flu vs.covid-19 deaths?  Rick are you saying that the CDC is so stupid as not to be able to tell the difference and report the flu as covid-19 deaths?

Jeff, too many summers in Pahrump?  Does that mean people in PAhrump are summer vacationers?  Such comments neither make a point nor prove anything but bigotry!

All distractors aside, my real purpose is to wake people up as NO ONE is taking this covid-19 seriously which is proven out in the numbers of deaths per age group, look it up for yourself in the CDC tables.

rokgpsman May-08-2020

Casino precautions

There's more than enough lawyers itching for a big fee from a negligence lawsuit, and casino/resorts are well-aware of this. The corporate owners will take as many reasonable safety and health precautions as they have to, at least enough to make a good defense in a lawsuit for negligence about public safety. The problem will be how to balance that without being a disincentive turnoff at the pools, restaurants, gaming tables, showrooms, etc.  Las Vegas gets visitors from all over the world, even if USA gets this virus under control what about other places where it's still a hotspot? That guy next to you at the dice table might have just flown in from Timbuktu.

Maybe you'll be presented with a paper saying "Dear Customer, if you want to stay at our hotel, play blackjack, swim in the pool, see a show, visit the spa and enjoy our many other activities then please sign this legal release saying you accept the risks".

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