America‘s favorite 24-hour town has finally caved to the inevitable and done what neither Sept. 11 nor the Great Recession made it do. It has turned out the lights and hung the “Closed for business” sign in the 
window. Finally displaying some leadership, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) ordered a 30-day closure of casinos, resorts, restaurants (take-out excepted) and bars, starting at noon today. “Essential businesses, such as airports, banks, post offices, hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies, urgent care centers, hardware stores, and gas stations will be allowed to remain open,” reports Susan Stapleton. At present, there are 42 active Coronavirus cases and one death in Southern Nevada. (Northern Nevada is getting off relatively lightly, with 13 reported cases.) In a speedy response, the Sisolak-friendly Culinary Union said the governor’s action “is necessary in protecting Nevadans, workers, and customers in the fight to contain the spread of Covid-19. We appreciate what has been implemented so far by MGM Resorts International, Wynn/Encore, and the Cosmopolitan … The Culinary Union demands every Nevada employer pay all of their employees (including part-time workers) and extend healthcare benefits.” For those out of work, more bad news: The Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation has closed all its Job Connect offices indefinitely.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman justified her own inaction by saying, “My hope is that the private industry rises to the top, that they’re allowed to stay open and take care of these families that are paycheck to paycheck. We really here in Las Vegas don’t compare ourselves to [Los Angeles] or New York because we are totally tourist-industry dependent.”
The Nevada Gaming Commission has been a disgrace, leaving Covid-19 related closures to the discretion of individual casinos, potentially worsening the danger. NGC Chairman Dr. Tony Alamo said he was “following the science” but following the money would be more like it. “If people don’t follow the science, I can’t postulate on what will happen. We’ve had pandemics in the past. This one is a little different, obviously, and a more aggressive stance has had to be taken worldwide. That’s what you’re seeing right now,” said Alamo, doing nothing.
Among the biggest dominos to topple was Venelazzo, which closes tomorrow afternoon, tentatively slated to reopen April 1. Las Vegas 
Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson is being very george to his work force, vowing no layoffs or furloughs, plus continued pay and benefits. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas shuts down at 6 p.m. today and tentatively plans a March 31 reopening. (Does everyone really think Covid-19 is going to blow over in two weeks?) Said the Cosmo, “Starting immediately, we will initiate an orderly departure for our in-house guests over the next 48 hours. Our employees have always been our priority, and we will continue to offer pay and benefits to full-time employees through March 31, 2020.”
A special badge of shame goes to Caesars Entertainment, which didn’t close one measly casino until Gov. Sisolak gave the order. Reservations through April 16 will be canceled. Refunds will be processed “within the 
next few days.” (Good for them.) Still, Caesars sailed awfully close to the wind on this one, advertising room specials at a time when Wynncore and MGM Resorts were closing up shop. Not very well thought-through, maybe even exploitative. Other operators who pushed their luck included Phil Ruffin at Treasure Island and Golden Entertainment at The Strat. Golden stock fell 29% in early trading. With mass unemployment looming in Sin City, Station Casinos shares plunged 50.5% today and Boyd Gaming spiraled 33% downward.
The Las Vegas Monorail, being more of a train to nowhere for no one than ever, closed at noon today. Monorail supremo Ingrid Reisman was wisely vague on resumption of operations, saying, “We are confident our Las Vegas community will get through this together and we look forward to welcoming our riders once more when the time is right.” (If you have a Monorail pass, it’s good for a year we’re told.)
Locals events have been toppling left and right. Latest is the cancellation of the next two First Friday festivals, a chance for small merchants to hawk their wares. “The economic impact that First Friday has in the arts 
district is vital and our stakeholders will need us now more than ever,” said First Friday Foundation President Michael Cornthwaite. Already the cries for a bailout of the restaurant industry are arising. But if they get it, will it all go to the big, clout-laden chains? Implores one columnist, “Independent operators need a major infusion of cash—cash that’s more readily available from the government than from their stressed-out customers—to make it. They need rent alleviation, eviction protection, and tax deferrals, at a minimum, to live through this body blow. Who knows what they’ll end up getting.” Coronavirus could go through Las Vegas’ once-booming restaurant industry like a dose of salts.
* The U.S. and Canada agreed to close their borders to “nonessential traffic.” The move is somewhat moot for the casino industry in Ontario and British Columbia, which has gone dark.
* Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) struck a blow for democracy-as-usual, refusing to call off the state’s primary. Quoth the guv, “Let me tell you this: It is exactly in times like these when the constitutional boundaries of our democracy should be respected above all else. And if people want to criticize me for that, well, go ahead.” Said like a man.
* While the rest of the country is contemplating The End of Life As We Know It, Steve Wynn is looking to cash out on his Beverly Hills mega-mansion. Bought for $48 million, it’s been marked up to $135 million. And why not? It’s unbelievably lavish. Wynn has several other cribs in which to spend his retirement years, although we think he’ll wait out Covid-19 like a Bond villain, lurking aboard his $215 million super-yacht.
Bonus quote: “It all feels like a bizarre formality given the moment—a pointless subplot with a foregone conclusion, in the midst of an existential threat,” Democratic Party operative Jesse Lehrich on the Bernie Sanders campaign.
