Boyd Gaming Might Only Reopen Seven of Its 10 Las Vegas Casinos When Permitted by the State

Boyd Gaming Corp., the local casino company with 29 properties across the country, may not open three of its resorts in Downtown Las Vegas when Gov. Steve Sisolak allows casinos to reopen statewide.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the California Hotel, Main Street Station, and the Fremont Hotel might remain closed along the Fremont Street Experience, citing a reliance on tourism, especially from the Hawaiian market, which may be slow to return. The Cal especially draws tourists from Hawai’i, gearing its marketing as a Ninth Island destination with dining and events created for Hawaiian crowds.

Boyd Gaming’s other Las Vegas properties — including the Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Aliante Casino, Eastside Cannery, Cannery, and Sam’s Town — rely on a large percentage of business from local retirees.

“Those retirees didn’t have a job before this started, don’t have a job now. They still have their income,” says president and chief executive officer of Boyd Gaming Corp. Keith Smith.

He does believe that local gamblers will want to return to casinos to once they are permitted to reopen.

Sisolak closed casinos closed on March 17 to curb the spread of COVID-19. While he has permitted some businesses in Nevada, including dine-in restaurants, to reopen on May 9. So far, he hasn’t said when casinos may reopen statewide. The Nevada Gaming Control Board did issue guidelines to resorts to reopen that include maintaining 50 percent capacity, masks on staff, cleaning protocols, and social distancing throughout the casino.

• Boyd Gaming reports 18% revenue drop in first quarter [LVRJ]

• How Coronavirus Is Affecting Las Vegas Food and Restaurants [ELV]