Boyd Gaming Updates ‘Do Not Disturb’ Policies, Hotel Rooms to Be Entered After 48 Hours

Posted on: November 15, 2017, 09:25h. 

Last updated on: November 15, 2017, 09:29h.

Casino.org Staff Writer Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming.

Boyd Gaming is further updating its “do not disturb” policies at its 10 Las Vegas hotels. The casino operator says guest rooms will be entered by security personnel every 48 hours, regardless of whether such signs are displayed on occupants’ doors.

Boyd Gaming do not disturb policy
“Do not disturb” signs come with time limits now at Boyd Gaming properties across America. Guests who are no shows for more than 48 hours at Boyd casino hotels, including Main Street Station in downtown Las Vegas, are subject to inspection. (Image: markslasvegas.com)

The policy is in response to the October 1 shooting at MGM Resorts’ Mandalay Bay. Perpetrator Stephen Paddock was able to transform his hotel suite into a firing perch stockpiled with 23 high-powered rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition, by closing himself in the room for three days undistrubed.

Paddock reportedly kept his “do not disturb” sign on his door for those three days. MGM Resorts doesn’t have specific room inspection procedures, or at least policies in place that it publicizes and notifies guests of upon check in.

Boyd initially introduced a three-day check period following the shooting, but has since reduced the time a guest can go undisturbed by another 24 hours. Boyd owns over 5,000 rooms in the Las Vegas valley at properties including Sam’s Town, The Orleans, Aliante, and downtown on Fremont Street.

Boyd will also check rooms every 48 hours at its hotels in Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and Mississippi.   

Unpopular Decision

The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the most circulated newspaper in Nevada, reported on the Boyd Gaming “do not disturb” update, and its social media followers were none too happy to learn of the news.

Commented and shared more than any other Review-Journal post yesterday, the overwhelming theme of the hundreds of comments is that Boyd’s security procedures are an overreaction and an invasion of privacy. Many opined that they often leave their “do not disturb” signs up because they’re traveling with valuable items, such as computers, other electronics, jewelry, and money.

“Forty-five million visitors a year, and one person is going to ruin it for everybody,” one commenter on Facebook wrote. “I’d be more okay with metal detectors and security at the elevators before I’d ever be okay with this.”

Others noted that Boyd’s new rules likely wouldn’t have applied to a high roller or someone of Stephen Paddock’s rewards level. After all, the VIP is king in Las Vegas, and most casinos go out of their way to make sure they’re as comfortable as possible.

MGM gave Paddock so much leeway that he reportedly had access to a service elevator, which he’s thought to have used to bring up his arsenal of heavy artillery.

Disturbing Policies

Wynn Resorts has also implemented a “do not disturb” policy, and it’s even more restrictive than Boyd’s. CEO Steve Wynn has advised his security staff to enter rooms that have the sign out for more than 12 hours, a seemingly short time period, considering the pain a late night out in Las Vegas can deliver to a Sin City rookie.

Earlier this month, Wynn criticized MGM on a Fox News Sunday interview for allegedly failing to monitor Paddock.

“The scenario that we’re aware of would have indicated that he didn’t let anyone in the room for two or three days. That would have triggered a whole bunch of alarms here, and we would have, on behalf of the guests, investigated for safety,” Wynn insisted.

MGM hasn’t publicly stated any change to its own rooms inspection policies to keep better tabs on its guests. The gaming operator owns more casinos and hotels than any other company in Las Vegas.