LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — With just a few days left until Gov. Sisolak’s stay-at-home order expires, there's a lot of speculation about when the Las Vegas Strip will be back to business.
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“Nobody wants to wait and all of a sudden the governor says okay, and they go running to catch up and get people through the doors,” says Anthony Curtis, travel expert.
Curtis runs LasVegasAdvisor.com and says it’s still unclear exactly what new measures will be taken to keep guests and employees safe, or how they’ll be implemented.
However, he does believe that rules of the past will be out the window.
“Masks were never allowed in casinos, you couldn’t even wear them on Halloween," says Curtis. "You’re going to see masks all over the place, and not only them being tolerated, but encouraged."
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Curtis says casinos will have to navigate a new found apprehension over re-opening that will come from both sides.
“You’re going to have fear from the customer who isn’t sure if they want to come back, you’re going to have fear from the workers who aren’t sure if they want to put themselves back on the front lines,” says Curtis.
However, fear isn’t stopping hotels and casinos from preparing to eventually open.
MGM Resorts tells 13 Action News that existing reservations past May 21 have not be canceled, and new reservations can be made starting June 1.
The Wynn is beginning to accept reservations starting Memorial Day weekend.
Although new reservations are something to look forward to, Curtis says the reality of less available jobs still looms.
“If they have to scale back with their workforce, they’re going to have to do that, and it’s going to have a further trickle-down effect on the rest of Las Vegas,” says Curtis.
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