Governor Sets June 4 Target for Reopening Las Vegas Casinos

70 Comments

• 
  Sharon May 30, 2020

  Excellent! Make it so!

  Reply
• 
  Sharon May 30, 2020

  I know some folks don’t want to think past the end of their noses about anything, and that’s cool. But you asked a question and I gave you a well thought out answer. Can’t do more than that. Go hang curtains! ?

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Mark May 30, 2020

  10 footers will work fine. That's reasonable. ;-)

  Reply
• 
  Sharon May 30, 2020

  This may be old info. We are at that airport all the time and haven’t seen one in years. There isn’t any signage for it that we have seen. You bet will double check next time as I have no interest in false info. You mentioned the ceilings in casinos being too tall for plexiglass.....this is Vegas. I agree that some ceilings are pretty high, but themselves mighty long curtains, too. And none of it needs to be up to the ceiling, maybe 20 feet to keep smoke from wafting horizontally. If there is a will there a way. A curtain would be better than nothing but it would trap fumes and may not totally block smoke. Plexiglass also doesn’t make the place look closed off. It’s not being ridiculous or unreasonable to solve a problem in different ways. Some of our smaller casinos and local restaurants do this. It’s really up to the owner.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Mark May 30, 2020

  Now you want to take it into the weeds. No thanks.

  Reply
• 
  Mark May 30, 2020

  LAS has several smoker/player lounges, but they are temporarily closed: https://www.mccarran.com/Maps

  Reply
• 
  Mark May 29, 2020

  Sharon, So, at LAS, there is only the outside smoking areas? No longer an inside smokers lounge? Doesn't seem fair. And what do you think of my idea of a curtained off area or two, in the center of the casino?

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 29, 2020

  Mark: yes, at the airport there is no smoking inside anywhere. Most smoke in the taxi ranks or passenger pickup areas. Not sure why, when the airport is full of so many different people, food vendors, etc. that this is unfair. We have a lot of outdoor space for smokers and our weather is good most of the time. There is seating and those large sand filled ash trays everywhere. I do like your idea about curtailing off smoking areas in the middle of casinos, but would go one further and have floor to ceiling plexiglass as a curtain would absorb smoke and not really prevent smoke from moving into nonsmoking areas. Both areas should have similar kinds of machines, bar access, etc. It’s annoying for non smokers to have fewer areas to play and no smoke free bars.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Mark May 30, 2020

  Floor-to-ceiling plexiglass?? You do know how tall some of those ceilings are, right? Make it like a sealed chamber? See now, that borders on the ridiculous. Neither side wants to be reasonable. And, I wasn't thinking of a player's lounge, just a smoker's lounge. Sofas, chairs, no machines or drink service.

  Reply
• 
  Mark May 26, 2020

  Let's say a casino on the Strip goes smoke-free. Will they: A) Offer good gambling odds to bring in players, or B) Offer bad odds, because they'll get players anyway. I guarantee it's B, they will offer less than favorable odds. Now, if you're OK with giving a point or two more to the house, then you can write that off as the cost of breathing cleaner air. But how many others like me would look at the poor video poker paytables and say, I'm outta here. Will the table players notice the paltry 6/5 odds on blackjack? Will the slot players notice they're losing more money than normal? The only way I see this work is, as I said before, one or two small curtained-off smoking lounges in the center of every casino, underneath the strongest ceiling exhaust vents. Everywhere else on the floor, smoke-free. Add maybe a designated smoking bar or two, if good exhausting.

  Reply
• 
  Jessie May 26, 2020

  I understand that addiction is a brain disorder, but being rude is NOT a mutually necessary behavior with brain disorders. In other words, you can have a dependency without being rude about it.

  Reply
• 
  George May 26, 2020

  Going to a casino and complaining about the smoke is like going to a strip club and complaining about the nudity.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• Mike Alexakis" height="43" width="43">
  Mike Alexakis May 26, 2020

  Hahaha Um folks go to strip clubs for the nudity, non-smokers do not go to casinos for the cancerous smoke...

  Reply View 2 replies Hide replies
• 
  George May 26, 2020

  But smokers do go there to smoke, and as long as most gamblers smoke, casinos will allow it. If it bothers you there are plenty of other places to go.

  Reply View 2 replies Hide replies
• Mike Alexakis" height="43" width="43">
  Mike Alexakis May 26, 2020

  In the 1960's yes, most gamblers smoked, in 2020 in the United States smokers are a distinct minority, gamblers or not... Its going to happen, casinos are going to be non-smoking just like restaurants are, and you will have designated areas outside to partake. Here in California the new rule is masks are required, the gigantic Morongo Casino just re-opened and had huge lines to enter, the casino operators in Nevada are certainly watching this unfold, they see that people will line up to play in a smoke-free environment... The first courageous Nevada casino that goes smoke free will see a huge increase in business, loyalty, and good will...

  Reply View 2 replies Hide replies
• 
  Jessie May 26, 2020

  A non-smoking property would certainly realize enormous savings on environmental systems maintenance. And, the walls, ceilings, floors, and furnishings would have extended life without the offputting dinginess and stench of old cigarette smoke, which is precisely the reason a lot of smokers DON'T SMOKE in their own houses and cars. Yet, they are more than eager to project that offensiveness on others outside of their prized personal spaces. Nice people.

  Reply
• 
  George May 26, 2020

  If that were true they would have all gone smoke free years ago. Casinos are volume businesses and watch their customers habits carefully, and give them what they want. The customers they ignore are in the minority, a vocal one sometimes, but still not who they make their money on. Several casinos have tried smoke free in the past just to stand out and attract non smoking customers, and all have closed. Also, a smoking ban goes against the whole spirit of Vegas, which is supposed to be an adult playground. Smoking is bad for you but then you can argue gambling is as well. What if I followed you into the casino, lectured you on gambling and took your wallet away? That's how smokers feel about you.

  Reply
• 
  Sharon May 26, 2020

  There really aren’t, if everywhere allows smoking.

  Reply
• 
  Sharon May 26, 2020

  Thank you. There is some twisted logic as smokers really are trying to hang on to their convenience. It’s really sad when the restrooms in an establishment have better air quality than the main house.

  Reply
• 
  Mark May 25, 2020

  As a previous smoker, I'd like to see a couple of curtain-enclosed designated smoking lounges, in the center of the casino. Rest of the floor is N/S.

  Reply
• 
  Jaxon May 25, 2020

  To all the people who are complaining about the smokers in the casino and the effects it has on employees and the public at large, please don't come back, until you can be an adult. Many of the casino employees that I know are non-smokers, so yes, the smoke agitates us. However, I think with the reduced capacity, smoking won't be as bad as it is now in the casinos. I wish there was no smoking in casinos, but there is, and until the casino companies decide to go non-smoking or the state government outlaws smoking in casinos, smoking is here to stay. I'll be happy to go back to work, whenever they call me back, and Ill be happy to see my regular customers again.

  Reply View 4 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 25, 2020

  It’s adult to be considerate of others. I really hope you get back to work fast, too! It’s been a lousy couple of months for everyone. People do need to feel safe to go back into any business. Best wishes!

  Reply
• 
  Jessie May 25, 2020

  Those who make known their distaste for smoke-filled casinos aren't complaining, per se. The stated objections are a collective activity referred to as an "opposition surge" by social scientists. The objective is to generate a noticeable increase in attention to smoking and health and to influence policy and law on smoking rights. As the controversy becomes more and more illuminated through the measures of opposition effect, the conclusions strike that smoking inside resort and casino properties will be prohibited in a reasonable timeframe. Your claim that the actions are immature is baseless. Your insults to those who express their opposition to smoking contradict your statement that you wish for no smoking in casinos. Fairytale wishes combined with offensive name-calling of those working to achieve the very outcome you desire is your idea of adult temperament? That's very interesting.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 25, 2020

  Who called anyone a name?

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Jessie May 25, 2020

  Truthfully, no one called anyone a name. There was an insinuation that those who complain about smoking are childish. Okay, maybe it wasn't an insinuation, but it was a hint at the very least. Yes, I stretched the truth. Now I feel terrible. I confess I made up the whole thing. I can only hope this doesn't go on my permanent record.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 25, 2020

  It’s all good. Just need to respect each other and each other’s health at this time. People are sensitive to threats to their health. I really feel for workers whose lives are cut short or made less enjoyable from smoke. Smokers seem to be the ones who are “offended” by anyone requesting a little courtesy. Las Vegas is still in baby steps about this very basic idea. Civil exchange of ideas Is always a good start.

  Reply
• Mike Alexakis" height="43" width="43">
  Mike Alexakis May 26, 2020

  Hahaha You are the first employee from a casino that I have ever seen that tells patrons to stay home, just for expressing their views, not even doing something against the rules... Jessie above expresses the situation very well, this is a serious issue, the smoke in casinos is an avoidable toxin that eventually will be fixed, the sooner the better...

  Reply
• 
  Jaxon May 26, 2020

  I didn't mean to offend anyone with my view. What I really meant, was that if you're afraid to come into a casino because of the smoke, then please stay away until you feel safe.

  Reply
• 
  Jessie May 25, 2020

  And I'll return to Vegas when all the hypocrites who whine about all the people who whine are gone. But not until I'm done whining. Okay, I'm done whining now.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 25, 2020

  Very productive comment. Thank you.

  Reply
• 
  epidicus May 25, 2020

  I'll return to Vegas when they get rid of the true virus : People whining about smokers - I'm a non-smoker, but really, the holier-than-thou attitudes of these non-smoking zealots is borderline obnoxious. Vegas is an adult playground. Let everyone enjoy their chosen vices. I've never been offended by anyone smoking at a slot or a table. Most smokers have seemed to be fairly considerate, in my experience.

  Reply View 3 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 25, 2020

  Ok. Just trying to encourage some consideration and suggest how everyone can coexist and have fun. The virus makes smoking dangerous, it’s not about whiners. People whine when they lose, too. But it won’t keep them away.

  Reply
• Mike Alexakis" height="43" width="43">
  Mike Alexakis May 25, 2020

  Its mathematics, smoke is toxic, poison, the casino workers deserve to have an environment that is as safe as possible, asking patrons who do smoke to simply go outside to smoke is not some big ask, or infringement on their rights... Morongo Casino opened this week, masks are required, so smoking inside is now against the rules. They reached their new capacity in two hours or so, smokers simply reserved their machine or table spot and went outside to smoke. Secondhand smoke will kill a certain amount of people every year, asking casino workers to wallow in it is not fair to them or their loved ones...

  Reply
• 
  Jessie May 25, 2020

  And I'll return to Vegas when all the hypocrites who whine about all the people who whine are gone. But not until I'm done whining. Okay, I'm done whining now.

  Reply
• 
  Mark May 24, 2020

  So June 4th? Great! Now bring back full pay Deuces and I'll think about returning.

  Reply
• 
  James K May 23, 2020

  So you really believe the writer thought Vegas closed 7 years ago? You're on the wrong blog sir. Some people....

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Scott Roeben May 23, 2020

  Reading comprehension is as rare as a sense of humor, apparently. ")

  Reply
• 
  Lexie D May 23, 2020

  Its so funny to me how people complain about it “not being safe” “stop smoking” “the CDC said..”, here’s something: IF YOU DONT LIKE IT, IF YOU DONT FEEL SAFE DONT GO! Problem solved. No one is forcing you to go. PS- Scott you’re amazing! Thanks for keeping us in the loop :)

  Reply View 2 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 23, 2020

  Well, when people don’t go, the casinos won’t win. Go have your cigarette.

  Reply
• Mike Alexakis" height="43" width="43">
  Mike Alexakis May 24, 2020

  They are not re-opening casinos to cater towards a certain percentage of patrons, look at their demographics, the most prevalent age group of gamblers is older folks, if the resorts fail at projecting safety, they fail... Nevada is currently having an increasing number of infections, so the resorts are going to have to work very hard to to convince people there is none or very little risk in a casino. Of course the gambling addicted crowd is going to be there at the outset, its the recreational gamblers they need to make a profit, I hope they do a professional job and make this a success...

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 24, 2020

  Thank you, Mike. It’s always those who create adverse circumstances who are the most vocal against attempts to address it for everyone. I really do think it’s possible to quarter smokers and non smokers congenially. There can be seriously tightLy closed areas exclusively for smokers, or if they feel the whales are entitled to more, they can have areas for high rollers for smokers only. Those players are serious table players, not slots. Areas of the casino through which people need to walk to get to smoking areas should not be open smoking areas. Like it used to be at the airport.....there were smoking rooms with a few banks of machines where smokers could go. Problem with that was that smokers didn’t bother to use them and smoked everywhere and now they are gone. My experience, and I live here, is that non smoking areas would be set up in areas where smoke easily wafted in to make those areas redundant, and with fewer machines. Non smokers like choice, too. And the smaller local taverns just put two fingers up and allow smoking everywhere, not just in the gaming area. People who are not gambling are smoking while the play pool, darts, eat and sit on their phones. There is also the staff to consider. Staff who are smokers can choose to work where smoking is allowed. Non smokers should not be required to work in smoking areas. None of these casinos have any financial reason why there can’t be serious Plexi-glassed areas inside to provide equal enjoyment for both. There can be outdoor climate controlled areas for more smokers and for non smokers who can be comfortable around smokers if outdoors. Casinos pay very low taxes on their profits in NV ((about 6 to 7% compared to nearly 30% in other countries and states) yet they claim poverty when the community And customers request improvements. After this shut down, many may not return if smoking is allowed everywhere. Especially if masks are required, obviously only non smokers would wear them and then have smoky air to breath in addition to breathing through a mask. If smokers are only 14% of adults, that seems to me to be a significant number of non smokers who may not come back. Those who visit Vegas bring their smoking with them when they don’t normally smoke at home, live it up for a few days and then leave. Those of us who live here, and we all see the ads about how important local business is to the casinos, visit regularly over time. And don’t forget smokers who get too drunk or are attached to oxygen machines with lit cigarettes are dangerous to everyone. There are ways to make everyone happy, especially now when there is this contagious virus being transmitted through the air as much if not more than on surfaces. Vegas strong? We’ll see.

  Reply View 2 replies Hide replies
• 
  Lydia Wilson May 25, 2020

  Gamblers who smoke far outnumber gamblers who don't smoke. Small gambling areas should be designated for non smokers, not the other way around. Bellagio offers a non smoking slot area right outside of the resort towers. It always has plenty of open seats. Go figure.

  Reply View 2 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 25, 2020

  You know this to be true because.......it only takes one smoker to make it seem like there are more. And if there are fewer non smokers gambling, that’s the reason why. I really doubt if you’ve ever taken a scientific head count of smokers ever. It’s all the same money to the casino.

  Reply
• Mike Alexakis" height="43" width="43">
  Mike Alexakis May 26, 2020

  You mix up the numbers, way more non-smokers than smokers, and this notion that designating a small area non-smoking makes the air breathable in that area only works piecemeal... At Red Rock there is a decent non-smoking area, but at Green Valley its not very good...

  Reply
• 
  Mark May 26, 2020

  Question for Sharon: If smokers didn't use the airport smoking lounges, where else did they instead 'smoke everywhere'? Smoking lounge I remember at LAS said you can only enter if you were also going to play their lousy slot machines.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 26, 2020

  Hi Mark, my husband is a former commercial pilot and now works at the Vegas airport. We have been there a lot over the years. The smoking areas were free to use, you didn’t have to play. My mother was a smoker and couldn’t wait to find one of these places after a flight. But some people just smoked anywhere they wanted. She wondered why she was bothering when so many others didn’t. I think with the clean Indoor Air Act they were eventually removed for good. Now the smokers are in the pickup areas by the terminals and that’s fine. They have an area to smoke. My suggestions throughout this thread have tried to encourage sharing indoor space and offering positive, effective suggestions for using the the same space more. Smokers just get on the defensive, which is not totally unreasonable as they have had their way for so long. This virus will change how we live for a good long while and we need to feel safe going to casinos, and there has been so little consideration given to this most obvious way of helping keep it safe. Ideas from smokers Seem to be are all or nothing: stay home, go somewhere else (like where?), etc. not any helpful ideas from their perspective on how to coexist in a healthy way for everyone. That’s unfortunate.

  Reply
• 
  Mark A Erichson May 22, 2020

  Wow! 86 months?! Time flies when you're not having fun!

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Scott Roeben May 23, 2020

  Fact. I'm not sure people got the joke.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Mark May 25, 2020

  It's been a weird few months.

  Reply
• 
  Patty Morgenstern May 22, 2020

  >Opening casinos on June 4 would mean the end of an agonizing, 86-month shutdown of the world’s most important industry aside from the manufacturing of Captain Morgan spiced rum.< 86 months??? Try 2-1/2 months

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Scott Roeben May 23, 2020

  I make jokes. I changed it to 486 to increase the exaggeration quotient.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Boulder Steve May 23, 2020

  Would be a lot better if the shutdown could end on day 69. Currently on day 66 so there still is hope

  Reply
• 
  FYMYAWF May 22, 2020

  June 7. Bellagio. Room and flight. Booked. Fucking finally.

  Reply
• 
  CHARLES MURRAY May 22, 2020

  COOL IAM READY FOR SOME SLOTS, LOTS OF SLOTS.

  Reply
• 
  CHARLES MURRAY May 22, 2020

  WOW YOUR WRITEING IS FANTASTIC , THANK YOU. IF I COULD NOT GAMBLE IN VEGAS I WOULD NOT GO.

  Reply
• 
  Sharon Hidveghy May 22, 2020

  Still smoking? Any possibility of clean air while there is a virus floating around?

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Mark A Erichson May 22, 2020

  Sharon, is there any evidence that cigarette smoke has any relationship to COVID infection? If so, please site.

  Reply View 2 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon Hidveghy May 22, 2020

  I only asked the question. It’s early days but CDC is now saying the virus is more likely to be airborne than surface born. It’s hard to imagine that smokers would really care if there’s a virus out there, but non smokes might. Every time someone blows smoke, everything in their lungs goes with it. No one dies by stepping out for a minute.

  Reply
• 
  Sharon Hidveghy May 22, 2020

  https://slate.com/technology/medical-examiner

  Reply
• 
  Sharon Hidveghy May 22, 2020

  Still all smoking, with this virus?

  Reply View 2 replies Hide replies
• 
  Laurie May 23, 2020

  Very few people smoke in the USA compared to France, where I live. I have never found it was an issue in Vegas where I spend several months a year and the extraction system in casinos is very efficient. I am a former smoker and it never bothered me. You're too spoiled, stop complaining ;)

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• Mike Alexakis" height="43" width="43">
  Mike Alexakis May 23, 2020

  Hahaha "extraction system in casinos"... You must be referring to the scene in the classic film "Casino" when the henchmen use a hammer on the card cheater's hand... As far as the toxic and cancerous smoke in Las Vegas casinos, its horrific, and a menace to the health and well being of employee's and visitors. I will "stop complaining" when smokers have to go outside to smoke, where they belong, where their habit does not ding innocent bystanders. The first casino that shows the courage to do the right thing will be rewarded with huge crowds...

  Reply View 3 replies Hide replies
• 
  Tina May 23, 2020

  Thanks, Mike. Your comment couldn't have been better.

  Reply
• 
  Mickey G. May 23, 2020

  Amen. Smoking in a casino is the equivalent of me going in with a boom box playing loud rap music. I could tell people who don’t like it to stay home or move to a different part of the casino, but just makes me more selfish and obnoxious. Actually smoking is worse because of the health issues for others, but same concept.

  Reply
• 
  Mark May 25, 2020

  ...but that casino's gambling odds will be disadvantageous. Guaranteed. Captive audience.

  Reply
• 
  GumboBoat May 26, 2020

  The problem with smoking in a casino now is that people who do smoke are constantly touching their lips and have saliva from the cigarette on their fingers. Then they proceed to play machines, touch chips etc. It's time to ban smoking in casinos.

  Reply View 1 replies Hide replies
• 
  Sharon May 26, 2020

  That was one aspect of this that I mentioned before. Don’t touch faces is e a toy the opposite of a smoker’s actions. And how will they wear a mask? So they spread all kinds of joy to everyone else.

  Reply
• 
  Robert May 22, 2020

  U meant 86 days not months. I know what u meant

  Reply View 2 replies Hide replies
• 
  Scott Roeben May 23, 2020

  I meant it as a joke. ")

  Reply
• 
  cadabra May 23, 2020

  The "86-month" dub is clearly a play on the foodservice slang "86". Everyone knows Scott's been 86'd on Captain Morgan for a month of Sundays. If his Captain Morgan isn't all gone, then Scott's gone (way gone; soaked) on Captain Morgan. Probably both.

  Reply