Nevada casinos operators looking to increase their gaming floor capacity past the 50% threshold will be tasked with making sure their workforce has received the COVID-19 vaccine, gaming officials said today.
In joint memo issued by the state’s Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission, regulators encouraged gaming companies to provide paid time off for employees to be vaccinated, coordinate transportation to vaccine sites and enter into agreements with pharmacy companies for distribution.
The boards will be given authority May 1 from the state to approve reopening plans and occupancy limits for properties as the state emerges from pandemic closures.
“Hospitality workers, many of which are front-of-house personnel interacting with visitors from around the globe, are critically positioned to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 both within the industry, and the community as a whole,” the memo stated. “Such viral surges are a continuing threat to the economic health of the gaming industry and greater state, as they threaten the hard-fought efforts undertaken over the last year to safely reopen.”
Gaming floor capacity was increased from 25% to 50% March 15 by the state. Once the regulatory bodies take over, the strongly-worded memo says requests by operators to increase casino floor occupancy limits “will only be taken in cases where licensees have taken measurable and material steps” to vaccinate their workforce.
By sending the notice, regulators from the commission and the board, which work in tandem to oversee Nevada’s gaming industry, said the new guidelines are necessary under their mandate by state law to “protect the public health, safety, morals, good order, and general welfare of the inhabitants” of Nevada.
Continue reading here.
In joint memo issued by the state’s Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission, regulators encouraged gaming companies to provide paid time off for employees to be vaccinated, coordinate transportation to vaccine sites and enter into agreements with pharmacy companies for distribution.
The boards will be given authority May 1 from the state to approve reopening plans and occupancy limits for properties as the state emerges from pandemic closures.
“Hospitality workers, many of which are front-of-house personnel interacting with visitors from around the globe, are critically positioned to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 both within the industry, and the community as a whole,” the memo stated. “Such viral surges are a continuing threat to the economic health of the gaming industry and greater state, as they threaten the hard-fought efforts undertaken over the last year to safely reopen.”
Gaming floor capacity was increased from 25% to 50% March 15 by the state. Once the regulatory bodies take over, the strongly-worded memo says requests by operators to increase casino floor occupancy limits “will only be taken in cases where licensees have taken measurable and material steps” to vaccinate their workforce.
By sending the notice, regulators from the commission and the board, which work in tandem to oversee Nevada’s gaming industry, said the new guidelines are necessary under their mandate by state law to “protect the public health, safety, morals, good order, and general welfare of the inhabitants” of Nevada.
Continue reading here.
