Since the first case of the coronavirus was officially confirmed in the state of Nevada, the officials of Las Vegas decided to step up their efforts and try to minimize the risks of the virus appearing in the city.
Although they might actually succeed in their effort, much like Macau, the virus is definitely going to affect the city in terms of profits.
Some of the casino operators in Las Vegas are already installing additional hand sanitizers. These are installed in areas where there’s high traffic of people so that they can keep their hands clean all the time and minimize the spread of the virus.
One of the operators to do this first was MGM Resorts, which operates several properties in Vegas, including MGM Grand and Bellagio. Apart from the sanitizers, there’s a boost of “disinfectant procedures” in some casinos, according to Brian Ahern, a spokesman for MGM Resorts.
Wynn Hotel-Casino also took serious measures to prevent the virus from spreading. First of all, the number of people who are currently disinfecting slots is now doubled, meaning you can already see twice as many workers on the casino gaming floor making sure all slots are sanitary.
Moreover, there are hand sanitizers placed by the majority of table games that all dealers must use all the time. Dealers are also required to wash the tables between games.
Finally, bartenders are required to wipe counters every 20 to 30 minutes to keep them clean and sanitized.
Other Casinos Join the Efforts to Prevent the Virus
MGM’s properties and Wynn are not the only ones to do their best to minimize the effect of the virus. Namely, the Venetian and Palazzo staff made sure that all bathroom doors, handles, counters, and toilets are sanitized.
Moreover, central sanitizers are added at table games, and decks of cards are shredded more frequently than usual. Finally, areas that are touched by a lot of people, such as escalator railings and walls, are also carefully being sanitized in these properties.
Operators hope that these measures will decrease concerns from tourists as these directly affect the stock prices of the operator companies. Red Rock Resorts had a significant blow when its value dropped by 14% on March 6, as it closed at $16.53.
It is not the only casino that took a hit on the stock market, as many other casino companies experienced the same. MGM Resorts, Boyd Gaming, and Wynn Resorts all had their stocks affected by the virus.
Jonathan Day is an associate professor at Indiana’s Purdue University, specializing in hospitality and tourism management. According to him, it’s wise that the casinos make sure to ensure the guests that all the necessary measures have been taken to protect their safety.
In fact, Day believes that this is a perfect opportunity for companies to show how much they care about their visitors.
