By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
Governor Steve Sisolak made a long awaited announcement last week. On Tuesday, May 26, the Governor announced that gaming establishments in the state could reopen again on June 4.
Even so, things will not all be as they once were yet. There will be some notable changes in operations for a time to comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines in place. These include monitoring body temperatures of customers and employees and providing for adequate spacing between casino patrons.
All Mesquite casinos spent the past week preparing to open with these COVID safety guidelines in place.
The Mesquite Gaming resorts including the Casablanca and the Virgin River will also be opening on June 4, according to Mesquite Gaming spokesman Dick Tomasso. Tomasso said that the resorts will be following all of the guidelines presented by Governor Sisolak and the Nevada Gaming Board and Commission.
These guidelines include regularly sanitizing machines, chairs and all other gaming surfaces. Employees at Mesquite Gaming must wear masks and will also be encouraging guests to wear masks as well.
All hotel guests will be given a symptom assessment form and receive a temperature test upon arriving, Tomasso said. The resorts will have a medical professional on site in case anyone shows symptoms of the virus and needs a COVID test. There will also be a designated place for symptomatic guests to wait for test results.
Tomasso said all restaurants at both Mesquite Gaming properties will be open at 50 percent capacity in compliance with the state guidelines.
The Eureka, an employee-owned casino and resort, wants patrons to know their reopening plan is in place.
“To that end, we have taken every step to implement a plan that protects our employee-owners and their families, our guests, and the communities in which we work and live,” said Andre Carrier, Chief Operating Officer of Eureka. “Let us be clear: the objective is to make our property an inhospitable environment for the virus, while still leaving the Eureka very much the warm, friendly and hospitality-centric environment guests have known and loved for years.”
Some precautions outlined in the Eureka plan include daily health screenings and protective equipment for employee-owners and protective equipment. The plan also includes providing guests with protective equipment and sanitizers as well.
The company has created a new “Clean Team” department that will be present to personally prepare and sanitize any gaming area upon request.
“As part of our promise to guest and employee-owners, we will continue to work with health experts and government officials to act rapidly as guidance continues to evolve,” Carrier said. “In doing so, we are joining a determined and hopeful global community that has responded with courage to this unique challenge.”
“We look forward to welcoming guest back to the Eureka, “ Carrier concluded. “We’re well prepared, and now, finally, we are ready to play.”
For a comprehensive list of procedures, protocols and operating hours visit www.Eurekamesquite.com/covid.
Stateline Casino, located at 490 W. Mesquite Boulevard, is owned by local businessman Kurt Slight. Slight said he had already submitted his reopening plans to the Gaming Control Board a week ago and had quickly received an “OK” to open.
The Stateline’s staff has been trained to handle the new regulations including taking patrons temperatures. They have also added partitions to the establishment to separate people.
Slight said that he had applied for and received help from the Federal Payroll Protection Plan. This was done only after the federal Small Business Administration included small gaming businesses as eligible for the aid. With that assistance, most of his staff will be returning to work, he said.
“There will not be any music for a while, we will see how it goes,” Slight said. “Nothing will be ‘normal’ for long while.”
Golden West Restaurant and Casino located at 91 E. Mesquite Boulevard is also happy to be back, according to Manager Sharon Branch.
“Everything is clean and sanitized,” Branch said. “We are operating at 50 percent according to the COVID guidelines.”
The Golden West has only lost one employee who actually moved away. All employees have been tested and will be temperature checked on a regular basis, Branch said.
