Nevada casinos and other brick-and-mortar gambling locations are to remain closed until at least April 30 after the state’s Governor Steve Sisolak extended temporary measures to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
Venues across the state were ordered to shut down gaming devices, machines, tables, games and any other kit related to gaming activity by 11:59pm on March 17 for 30 days. This suspension will now be extended until at least the end of April.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board, the state’s gambling regulator, will continue to enforce the temporary regulations until the Governor deems it fit to lift the measures.
The extension of the state-wide order will apply to all non-essential businesses in Nevada, with only facilities such as pharmacies, grocery stores, drug and convenience stores, banks and financial institutions, hardware stores, and gas stations permitted to open.
“This is only common sense; if your business brings groups of people together, it should not be open,” Governor Sisolak said at the time of the initial suspension of operations.
Nevada becomes the latest state in the US to extend the suspension of land-based gambling due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Yesterday (April 2), the Illinois Gaming Board also extended a temporary suspension on brick-and-mortar gambling to April 30.
The global outbreak of coronavirus has caused all commercial casinos in the US to temporarily close, while the majority of tribal casinos have also shut for the foreseeable future.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) estimated that the closure of casinos could cost the country’s economy as much as $43.5bn over the next two months.
However, the association also praised the recent passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act through the US Senate, saying it would help prop up the gaming industry during the pandemic.