Vegas Re-opening Part 1
Las Vegas casinos were allowed to reopen at 12:01 AM on June 4. That afternoon, I paid a visit to several of them on the north Strip. Many stores and restaurants within the casinos were still closed and some casinos, like the Mirage, chose to not reopen yet.
![Prada store at the Wynn](/wizfiles/img/1848/01.png)
This is the Prada store at the Wynn, which chose to not open yet. I think it may have been because of recent looting of other high-end retail stores elsewhere.
Here are some things I noticed in general that day:
- The staff everywhere seemed to be happy to be back to work and were very helpful and polite.
- As the first day open after 2.5 months, I predicted everybody would be eager to play, but that wasn’t the case. Most gaming tables were standing dead and the restaurants had few customers.
- About half of casinos took your temperature to be allowed entry. I was told the cutoff was 102 degrees at the Wynn. Who are these people with 102-degree fevers that are out exploring the Strip? I’d feel safer if the cutoff point were closer to 99.
- While staff seemed to be all masked, it was optional for guests. I would estimate about 20% were wearing them. Not much effort seemed to be taken at social distancing.
- Half of the machines in slot machine banks were turned off. In circular islands of machines, which are common at the Venetian, all of them were on.
- Some casinos had plexiglass barriers at the tables games, like the Bellagio, some didn’t, like the Treasure Island, and some had a mix, like the Wynn.
- Hand sanitizing stations were pervasive, but the Bellagio had hand-washing stations right on the casino floor. My compliments.
- Sorry, but all buffets and shows are still closed.
- Elevators had a rule of a maximum of four people at a time, but nobody was enforcing it at the Treasure Island, at least leading to/from the parking garage.
![Craps table at the Bellagio](/wizfiles/img/1849/02.png)
Craps table at the Bellagio
I plan to visit more casinos elsewhere in Vegas and report next week on the scene downtown.
For now, I have more thoughts and pictures about Vegas’ opening day in my Wizard of Vegas blog.