Nevada’s casino industry has been hemorrhaging money since the coronavirus forced a statewide casino lockdown. Now, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has outlined the procedure for casinos to reopen.
Life After Lockdown
Nevada’s casinos have been under lockdown since Governor Steve Sisolak ordered the shutdown of all non-essential businesses on March 18. As several casino owners have been eager to reopen earlier than required by law, the NGCB has begun outlining procedures for casinos to reopen.
Among them are a list of requirements for each facility, including tax liability, available cash requirements, and procedures for returning employees. NGCB chair Sandra Douglass Morgan issued a statement regarding the reopening policies.
“The Gaming Control Board is committed to the safe reopening of Nevada’s gaming industry, and will assist licensees where needed to reopen as efficiently as possible while complying with applicable gaming statutes, regulations, and policies,” she said in the statement. “A safe, thoughtful, and efficient resumption of gaming operations in this State will help both Nevada and its residents recover from this pandemic.”
Details of the Plan
The NGCB released details of the casino reopening plan, including steps casinos must take before resuming business. Each casino must submit a reopening plan 7 days before reopening.
The reopening plan must include a list of all venues that will be reopened or remain closed. All reopening casinos must comply with state gaming regulations regarding cash on hand, chip counts, and funding schedules.
The state will temporarily waive the minimum requirements for cash on hand for 7 days while casinos get up and running. NGCB agents may also observe the reopening procedures to ensure compliance.
Since the shutdown occurred suddenly, a laundry list of financial transactions must be tracked and reinstated. The gaming board stated that all customer payouts must be dealt with first, including expired payout receipts and wagering vouchers. Any tax liabilities and monthly/quarterly reporting activities will receive an extension in order to allow casinos to catch up.
The board also explained that the procedure is a work in progress, and new details may emerge as casinos reopen. They also said that casinos with issues meeting certain requirements will not be issued citations, but would be granted extensions or waivers on a case-by-case basis.
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