Perhaps the biggest gaming locale in the United States, the Las Vegas economy grinded to a halt during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, Sin City casinos have rebounded and found ways to pump money back into their properties. With some mask rules still in place, a recent report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal found that with cases rising in Clark County, many casino operators are preparing for a possible return to mask mandates. With Las Vegas also being a global destination for certain conventions as well, this would not be a welcome return for many casino operators. However, some properties are optimistic that cases will go down and also receive support from the Nevada government should things progress negatively.
Below SBS will go over the latest from Vegas and also some more information about gaming in Sin City.
Per the LVRJ report, with covid cases moving in the wrong direction in Clark County, a few organizations have opted to bring back their indoor mask mandates. This includes Las Vegas’ Nellis Air Force Bases and a handful of other locations in the city that have taken precautions with covid cases rising. Moreover, the Red Rock Canyon visitors centers has put together a mask mandate along with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas suggesting that students and staff mask up. However, they have not yet opted for mask-wearing being a requirement on campus.
So what does this mean for Las Vegas casinos? According to the LVRJ, casino operators have opted for an optional mask-wearing approach for their establishments. It also appears that there is no imminent move for casinos bringing back a mask mandate. Also a spokesman from the Nevada Gaming Control Board said earlier this month that “administrators would only issue directives for facial coverings at casinos if directed to under an order from Gov. Steve Sisolak — and that hasn’t happened.”
According to Caesars Chief Operating Officer Anthony Carano, Las Vegas has had strong visitor count progress since the bottom of the pandemic. A giant player in the commercial casino space, the health of Caesars certainly correlates positively to Vegas a whole. Per his organization’s first-quarter earnings call, Caesars had an all-time first-quarter record of $411 million in revenues excluding rental payments. Moreover, the company has lifted all occupancy caps in Vegas and “would expect to see a material improvement in occupancy for the second quarter of 2022.” Finally, Carano reported that “Ebitda improved 140% versus the first quarter of 2021.”
In addition to Carano, MGM Resorts’ CEO Bill Hornbuckle had some positive remarks about the growth of Vegas in the first quarter of 2022. Hornbuckle said during the organization’s first quarter earnings call his company “maintained strong margins in the first quarter, a reflection of the sustainable operating learnings implemented from the pandemic.” In addition to those positive remarks, the CEO said that the organization expects there to be more positive growth in the space of conventions and other large events. This was an area that the LVRJ pointed out was the most impacted by pandemic restrictions. So even though Clark County raised its covid-19 designation from moderate to high earlier this month, there is optimism that this growth will continue.
As you are most likely aware, Vegas is one of the biggest sports betting gaming hubs on the planet. However, if you need more background and insight on gaming in Vegas then you should definitely check out our Las Vegas sportsbook guide. On this fantastic page you can find the latest gaming news coming out of Sin City along with some spectacular information on welcome bonuses and the latest ways to make deposits. In regards to the former, SBS also has put together an excellent page which is our welcome bonuses breakdown that has all you need to know about the best ways to get the most bang for your buck. Finally, if you require more than one way to place your bets, then our payment options overview could be just the thing to make your gaming journey as smooth as possible.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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