As Las Vegas casinos move toward the state’s goal of 100% capacity limits by June 1st, the Nevada Gaming Control Board announced that they will be allowed to raise those limits to 80% beginning on May 1st. Along with the rising capacity limits, social distancing will also be reduced to just three feet as of the first of next month. Both of these moves come as the Gaming Control Board released an emergency directive last week to let casinos follow directives of local authorities. In addition, the Board stated each individual property could submit a waiver that would allow fewer…

A month long investigation into illegal gambling dens in Arkansas led to a SWAT Team raid, five arrests, 12 gambling machines and over $60,000 being seized. A confidential informant told investigators that gambling was taking place at two pool halls in Fort Smith. In Arkansas, gambling is legal only at three licensed casinos. Captain Philip Pevehouse of the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department said that gambling occurred in backrooms of these pool halls. In addition to the five arrests, 11 people were issued misdemeanor citations in connection with the unlicensed gambling devices. Gambling has been a popular activity in the United…

Casinos in Sin City are desperate to get to 100% occupancy levels. Now, one Vegas casino is willing to incentivize their employees with cash if they will get the Coronavirus vaccination. The Cosmopolitan is putting their money where their mouth is and offering up to $1 million in bonus cash for their workers who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Those bonuses will kick in once the staff reaches a 60% vaccination rate. Once 60% of Cosmopolitan employees have been vaccinated, workers who received the shot will receive a $50 bonus. At 70% the bonus is $100, 80% nets them $250, and…

Washington State sports betting is closer to reality as the Tulalip Tribe has reached an agreement with the State Gambling Commission. That agreement not only allows the Tribe to accept sports bets, but to actually host some events on their casino property. This is the first contract for betting on sports in the state, and comes after a year of negotiations. Bets will be taken on both professional and college games, the Olympic games, and e-sports if the events take place on Tribal casino land. Tulalip Chairwoman Teri Gobin stated that they were “…extremely satisfied with the compact amendment and…

The first resort casino to open on The Strip in ten years is ready to go! Resorts World Las Vegas is a $4.3 billion resort affiliated with the Hilton Hotels brand. Crews worked through the coronavirus pandemic to finish. Reservations began this week for the 3,500 room destination, which will boast 40 food outlets, plus 70,000 square feet of retail, and a 117,000 square foot casino floor. Most importantly, though, it will add about 5,000 jobs to the Vegas economy. Work on Resorts World Las Vegas began in March of 2007, shortly after the Stardust was imploded. The original plan…

The investment bank and financial services company Morgan Stanley says that the Las Vegas recovery on the backside of this pandemic is coming ‘fast and strong’. The company’s statements come as a part of their recent report on the gaming industry. Analysts for the company recently visited Las Vegas, finding that the market was busy now, even in the middle of the week. They expect that trend to increase as we move into the summer, with the hope of governments easing current restrictions and reopen at 100% by June 1st. The Morgan Stanley report also noted that the market is…