Nevada Casinos Warned about Mask Violations

Categories: America, Around The Globe, News | Published by: Dave Thomas | 06 Sep 2021

Las Vegas casinos have been reminded that their employees and customers must wear masks by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). The casinos that fail to do that, will face disciplinary action.

The NGCB’s reminder comes as Nevada casinos are preparing to welcome hundreds of thousands of gambling enthusiasts and visitors to the state during the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

High Las Vegas Transmission Rates

In the statement that the NGCB released on Friday, a day before Labor Day weekend crowds started flocking to casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the board reminded Nevada’s gambling establishments that Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a directive that requires individuals “in all indoor settings” and regardless of their vaccination status to wear masks or face coverings.

The Democrat governor issued the directive in July due to the statewide health crisis. Las Vegas is located in Clark County, a county where the community transmission levels are considered to be “substantial” or “high”.

Masks Mandatory Regardless of Vaccination Status

In fact, some US cities, such as Los Angeles, have advised people against visiting or travelling to counties where community transmission rates are that high and the number of new infections is increasing. Both of these things are true for Clark County and Las Vegas. The low rate of vaccination doesn’t help either.

The NGCB’s official reminder to casinos in Nevada states that masks are mandatory for employees, patrons, and guests, regardless of their vaccination status.

The NGCB also informed casinos that the board would continue to look to decrease the number of new COVID-19 infections in the state and that if casinos don’t comply with what the panel requires from them, they would face disciplinary action.

Casino Goers Got Used to Masks

Wearing masks shouldn’t be a problem for Labor Day casino visitors, though. Masks and mandatory face coverings are required in many indoor areas and have become the norm for casino goers.

Experts say that wearing masks in closed spaces is nothing new for travellers and that Las Vegas does not have the strictest of requirements related to the prevention of COVID-19.

UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality’s assistant professor Amanda Belarmino told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Las Vegas casino goers only need to wear masks and are not required to show vaccine cards and ID.

So, the NGCB’s reminder doesn’t ask anything new from casinos and people visiting them, and the requirements ensure safety while at the same time not being too intrusive. As Belarmino puts it, Las Vegas is “in the middle of the road” with its COVID-19 requirements.

According to her, the measures that casinos currently implement won’t be a problem for them to have a profitable Labor Day weekend and a successful fall season.

Las Vegas Police Ready to Help

In case visitors or casinos ignore these reminders and warnings, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said it was prepared for all scenarios. Capt. Dori Koren posted on Twitter that they would be in full force to keep Las Vegas safe, reminding visitors to have fun but to also stay safe.

Interestingly, Capt. Koren, who is quite active on social media, recently posted a video of a man scaling the Aria casino in protest of the statewide mask requirement.

The video showed the man climbing the resort, and once he got to the top, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was there to arrest him. Proving once and for all that following what authorities tell you is your best bet, especially when in Las Vegas.