Health concerns see Strip closure
All Las Vegas casinos owned by MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts will close their doors from 6pm on Tuesday, March 17. According to reports released on Sunday, the directive has been taken to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The temporary closure is set to last for two weeks. MGM Resorts is also refusing to accept accommodation reservations until May 1, sparking fears that the shutdown could be for much longer.
This is the first large-scale closure of resorts on the Vegas Strip. Casinos stayed open despite a slowdown in tourism after 9/11 and during the economic recessions of the 2000s and early 2010s.
Assessment will continue at Wynn
As part of its continuing effort to reduce the spread of the virus, Wynn Resorts said in a news release that both the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore properties will remain closed for two weeks.
unknown whether workers will receive any paychecks or compensation during the closures
The company will then assess the situation and make a decision as to whether the resorts will open. It is currently unknown whether workers will receive any paychecks or compensation during the closures.
MGM reopening as soon as it’s safe
MGM Resorts, which is set to close famous casinos at the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, and The Mirage among others, put the decision down to current uncertainty in the US and globally.
In a statement, MGM Resorts chair and CEO Jim Murren vowed that the company would do its part to curtail the speed of the coronavirus spread. He said:
It is now apparent that this is a public health crisis that requires major collective action if we are to slow its progression.”
“We will plan to reopen our resorts as soon as it is safe to do so and we will continue to support our employees, guests, and communities in every way that we can during this period of closure,” he added.
Other Vegas casinos in the picture
In the meantime, competitor Caesars Entertainment is yet to declare whether it plans to stay open. Shows at its 11 resorts have already been canceled until March 31.
The Venetian has already pledged in a statement to stay open. It said, “We will continue taking the recommended precautions necessary to keep our team members and guests safe.”