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Coronavirus pandemic could spell economic disaster for Las Vegas

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Like much of the country, Nevada has all but shut down with the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip going dark amid efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. But unlike other parts of the nation, no other state relies so heavily on tourism to drive its economy.

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On Tuesday, FOX 12 reported that the Grand Ronde Tribal Government Offices were planning a regular shutdown for the holiday week. That’s the tribe which owns the casino. LAS VEGAS (FOX5) - After Governor Steve Sisolak announced Tuesday that casinos can move forward with reopening plans on June 4, multiple Las Vegas area hotel-casinos announced reopening dates for. Jun 04, 2020 LAS VEGAS - The casino coronavirus closure is ending, with cards to be dealt, dice to roll and slot jackpots to win again starting Thursday in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada. Hotel-casinos in. Nov 17, 2020 The casino will operate in the following manner, including several changes, from Nov. 9 at 9 a.m.: Hours of operation will remain 9 a.m.

Casino executives in Las Vegas, NV., are deliberating certain ways to keep customers and employees safe once the gambling mecca eventually opens to guests, according to a report on Wednesday.

Some of the informal talks have discussed safety measures that include putting masks and gloves on dealers, in addition to re-opening facilities nearby so employees and possibly tourists could get tested for COVID-19.

Las Vegas would start by re-opening small businesses around the area so locals could start working again to alleviate economic hardships, according to Bloomberg.

The Las Vegas Strip is deserted on April 14, as casinos and other businesses are closed because of the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The casinos would operate with as few as one-third of its rooms available for booking, with its entrances curbed and the temperatures of guests checked by noninvasive methods, the paper said.

Other deliberations include having gamblers sit at least a chair apart at blackjack tables, as social distancing concerns have the potential to linger for an indefinite period of time.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak had previously announced that all casinos, movie theaters, bars, restaurants, and gyms would close on March 18 to help fight the spread of the COVID-19.

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The move was echoed by Caesars Entertainment CEO Tony Rodio who said in a press release the corporation would temporarily shut down its owned properties in North America to protect the well being of its employees and guests.

It's not clear when Las Vegas will reopen its casinos, although Sisolak has made it clear the health of the public remains his concern.

“This is not going to be a political decision for me, as for when to open,” he said, according to Bloomberg. “I don’t have an exact number. I’ll take a lot of advice from our medical folks and determine what’s in the best interest of keeping all Nevadans safe.”

Fox News' Nick Givas and Benjamin Brown contributed to this report

ilani announced Tuesday that it intends to remain open during the renewed round of COVID-19 restrictions that Gov. Jay Inslee announced Sunday in response to a spike in novel coronavirus cases.

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Tribal casinos enjoy sovereign rights and are not bound by state business restrictions, although ilani and many other Washington casinos did voluntarily close during Washington’s initial stay-at-home order in March. Most, including ilani, reopened in May.

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This time around, ilani issued a press release stating that the casino is an essential tribal operation because it provides revenue to fund the Cowlitz Tribe’s health and human services programs. In a statement, ilani president and general manager Kara Fox-LaRose stated that the casino’s health and safety protocols had proven effective in avoiding significant outbreaks.

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ilani canceled a Wednesday press conference intended to mark the opening of its new parking garage, although the casino issued a statement saying that the garage would still open “on time and on budget.”