Las Vegas casinos get guidelines to reopen amid coronavirus pandemic

When will Las Vegas casino slot machines start ringing again and when will the cards be dealt at blackjack tables?

A firm date was not but casinos may be closer to opening for business. They’ve been closed since March 18.

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The Nevada Gaming Commission has approved guidelines for 400 casino properties in the state, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

The commission issued the guidelines Friday.

The new rules require:

• Occupancy limits of half of each casino’s previous numbers in each gaming area
• Three players at each blackjack table
• Six players at each craps table
• Four players at each roulette table
• Four players at each poker table

The guidelines also require that conventions be limited to 250 people and restaurants have limited seating. Pools lounge chairs and cabanas will have to abide by social distancing rules. Nightclubs will remain closed, The Associated Press reported.

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But not everyone agreed with the limitations.

Richard Gilliam, a poker player, requested that the number of gamblers at a poker table to be higher than four people. He said normally nine or 10 play at a time, and the limited number would make the game unprofitable for the casino. The game would also not be what players would want, the Review-Journal reported. Gilliam asked for the limit to be raised to six players.

Casinos will also have to disinfect dice and cards, the AP reported.

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Gov. Steve Sisolak has not announced when gambling can legally begin again, for both casinos and convenience stores with slot machines, the AP reported.

He said recently that casinos would not be part of the first phase of getting businesses reopened. Some resorts are targeting an opening date by Memorial Day, the AP reported.