All Clark County Casinos Can Reopen at 100 Percent Capacity on June 1

Get ready for 100 percent capacity at all casinos in Clark County. The Nevada Gaming Control Board told casino operators across the state that they could follow the COVID-19 guidance from counties, and for Clark County, that means no social distancing and no occupancy limits starting on June 1, a directive that applies to all businesses including bars and restaurants.

Since last year in June, casinos statewide reopened at 50 percent capacity after a 78-day shutdown to slow the spread of COVID-19. In November, after a spike in COVID-19 cases, casinos were reduced to 25 percent occupancy, which increased to 35 percent on February 15, and then 50 percent on March 15. On May 1, Clark County took over mitigation protocols, allowing 80 percent occupancy and three feet of social distancing.

Casinos, which fall under the jurisdiction of the gaming control board, could request higher occupancy levels based on the number of staff vaccinated for COVID-19. Many — Wynn, the Cosmopolitan, Station Casinos, MGM Resorts, the Silverton, Rampart Casino, and Caesars Entertainment, to name a few — were granted permission to reopen at full capacity.

“…each licensee shall comply with its respective county’s general capacity and occupancy limitations and social distancing requirements, as detailed in the county’s Local Plan, within the licensee’s gaming areas,” a new notice from the board states. “As of June 1, 2021, none of Nevada’s counties will retain social distancing or occupancy limitations that would apply to a gaming licensee.”

Of course, if COVID-19 numbers spike again, Clark County has the ability to amend its guidance.

Data from Our World in Data from the University of Oxford shows that 35.9 percent of Nevadans are fully vaccinated, lower than the 39.9 percent inoculated against COVID-19 nationwide. The Southern Nevada Health District reports that 1,723,469 combined doses of vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have been administered in Clark County as of May 26.

Clark County reports 250,573 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and 4,393 deaths. All Nevadans ages 12 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Nevada still requires those who are not vaccinated to wear a mask, and even those who are vaccinated should wear a mask in crowded conditions. Many casinos already lifted mask mandates for vaccinated customers and staff.

• Clark County Reopens at 100 Percent Capacity on June 1 With No Restrictions [ELV]

• Nevada Allows Vaccinated People to Go Without Masks, Following CDC Guidelines [Updated] [ELV]

• Las Vegas Casino Reopenings: All the Updates [ELV]