Nevada Governor Eases Lockdown Restrictions, But No Word Yet On CasinosFirst "Phase" Of Recovery Plan Likely To Start When Stay-At-Home Order Expires On May 15 |
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Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak outlined his plan for reopening the Nevada economy in a press conference Thursday evening, but he failed to give any timeline or details on when the gaming industry would be open for business again.
“We must now chart a responsible path forward that will get Nevadans back to work under a new normal,” said Sisolak.
Sisolak outlined the first few steps in his “Roadmap to Recovery” just a day after he announced that he would be extending his stay-at-home order until May 15. He will, however, be easing some restrictions on certain businesses surrounding outdoor activities like golf and allowing for curbside pickup for retailers.
According to the governor, his roadmap is a gradual reopening of the economy through multiple phases of reopening businesses.
Phase 1 will be implemented on or before May 15, depending on what the data looks like. Sisolak said that the infections reached a peak on April 24 and have been declining since that point. He wants to make sure that trend continues before starting his plan.
During the first phase of the plan, businesses will start to reopen, while continuing to implement social distancing measures. The medical community will trace the contacts of those who tested positive for the virus to continue to contain its spread. Sisolak also encouraged Nevadans to continue using face masks during the first phase.
He said that phase 1 will last between 2-3 weeks, before entering subsequent phases. Bars, nightclubs, malls, sporting events, concerts, large religious gatherings, and gaming establishments will still be closed during this time.
When the conference was opened for questions, Sisolak clarified his remarks about the gaming industry.
“Casinos will not be open in the beginning of phase 1 and I want to make sure that is interpreted appropriately,” said Sisolak.
At what point in the timeline will Sisolak begin to allow casinos to reopen? He is not exactly sure.
Throughout the press conference, Sisolak said he would be in discussions with local communities and experts in different sectors. His plan will remain “flexible at all times.”
“We don’t really know how many phases there are,” said Sisolak. “There might be three phases. There might be four phases.”
In a Good Morning America interview Wednesday, Sisolak said casinos wouldn’t be open until phase three or four.
The gaming question is inherently more important to Nevada than the other states in the Western State Compact, an agreement between the governors of Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, and California to share information and the best practices for containing the virus.
The gaming industry makes up a much larger portion of the state economy than any other state in the country. In 2018, the gaming industry created a statewide economic impact of $67.6 billion and made up 37.5 percent of the state government’s tax revenue. It also employed 450,100 workers.
The industry has been closed since Sisolak ordered casinos to cease operations on March 17.
The rumor mill has been churning for some time about when the Las Vegas Strip will be open for business again.
Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox met with President Trump at a White House roundtable discussion and said that he believed Las Vegas casinos could be open by Memorial Day. Caesars Entertainment, Boyd Gaming and Station Casinos were beginning to accept reservations on their website May 15. Following Sisolak’s remarks, it is clear those properties will not have any guests on that date.
In an interview with The Nevada Independent, Nevada Gaming Control Board Chair Sandra Douglas Morgan said that those businesses were trying to get a pulse on the market.
“They’re running a business, so they’re basing their reservation dates, I think, probably on just estimating when they could reopen and maybe getting a sense of the willingness of people to come back,” said Morgan. “I think people are just trying to say they’re willing to open.”
In that same interview, Morgan also said that casinos will have to submit a reopening plan to the board before they are permitted to do business.
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