Nevada’s governor Steve Sisolak (pictured) still hasn’t announced a date to reopen, but casinos are already preparing. The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) is in charge of creating rules the venues will have to follow.
NGCB issued health and safety policies and laid down strict requirements, and casinos are free to increase their individual safety measures. No more than 50% of the venue’s gaming area could be occupied, with the requirement that staff keep a firm headcount.
Operators should also re-design the gaming areas to keep up with social distancing. Every other slot machine should have a chair removed, while card tables should seat a limited number of people, depending on the game. The gaming areas will also be subjected to disinfection to keep infection threats to a minimum.
NGCB stated they created the rules by working with the governor’s office, state and healthcare professionals with the aim of safely resuming casino operations, and “diminish personal contact and increase the level of disinfection in high-use areas.”
The presented regulations will be reviewed by the Nevada Gaming Commission, and the hearing will be held online before a final ruling of proposed requirements is made. Currently, NGCB has two sets of rules prepared. One is for resort casinos and similar gaming venues, and another is for smaller operators with up to 15 slot machines such as bars or supermarkets.
There’s no definitive date for when casinos will renew the operations, but Nevada is aiming to hit the ground running.
