Gaming After 1 yr Covid-19

Gaming Looks Forward, Sort Of...

In this article Bill Sokolic summarizes pandemic's impact on gaming. He notes that, once re-opened, gaming in some places (Colorado) recovered more than casinos in Las Vegas. Where available, electronic wagering helped states prop up the bottom line. But, electronic gaming provides no "local" jobs, such as restaurant and other retail.

Bottom line: For Atlantic City and Las Vegas, nothing will be "normal" until convention and meeting business returns. As we successfully wrangle the C-virus through 2021, more and more conventions will again consider it safe to meet in large groups. As that happens, we can expect bookings to increase for meetings in 2022. That is, if we successfully wrangle the C-virus.

Makes me want to win all the money before the banks fail.

We are packed at my casino. Spring Training, golf, Barrett Jackson auto auction, snow birds, 70-80 degrees every day.

They canceled our Christmas bonuses last year due to Covid-19. But last week they gave them as a thank you to all those that worked through it all.

We're not even back to full operations, with some restaraunts not open, under staffed, no shows, 4 seats per table game with partitions, but we seem to be pretty much recovered to the extent they are allowing.


ZCore13

How long before we can enter a casino without wearing a mask?

Quote: Gundy

How long before we can enter a casino without wearing a mask?

. Some maybe by May? I think by then all Americans who want a vaccine will have been able to get one, or at least have a confirmed appointment to get one. I’m in southern Florida now. Even the places with ‘mask required’ have a decent number if people ignoring it. And I haven’t seen one confrontation.

Quote: LuckyPhow

Gaming Looks Forward, Sort Of...

In this article Bill Sokolic summarizes pandemic's impact on gaming. He notes that, once re-opened, gaming in some places (Colorado) recovered more than casinos in Las Vegas. Where available, electronic wagering helped states prop up the bottom line. But, electronic gaming provides no "local" jobs, such as restaurant and other retail.

Bottom line: For Atlantic City and Las Vegas, nothing will be "normal" until convention and meeting business returns. As we successfully wrangle the C-virus through 2021, more and more conventions will again consider it safe to meet in large groups. As that happens, we can expect bookings to increase for meetings in 2022. That is, if we successfully wrangle the C-virus.

Perhaps they are doing some of this, I'm not sure, I don't think to any significant levels..... They need to heavily entice people who are playing online to also play at the B&M casinos with heavy comps/free play/tournaments/free rooms/ concerts cross-over promotions etc. And visa versa, so people who are playing online feel the NEED to get to the B&M casinos and people who play at the B&M casinos feel the NEED to play online once they are home, and once they are home they feel the NEED to get back to the casino and so on and so on. Team leaders can name their marketing campaign...Never Stop Gambling

Quote: SOOPOO

. Some maybe by May? I think by then all Americans who want a vaccine will have been able to get one, or at least have a confirmed appointment to get one. I’m in southern Florida now. Even the places with ‘mask required’ have a decent number if people ignoring it. And I haven’t seen one confrontation.

Thank you SOOPOO. I look forward to a trip to Vegas around October, but I won't bother if masks are still a thing.

I live in SW Fla, and I don't bother wearing a mask. Packed restaurants are the norm. No masks to be seen. Employees don't wear them either.

Quote: SOOPOO

. ... I’m in southern Florida now. Even the places with ‘mask required’ have a decent number if people ignoring it. And I haven’t seen one confrontation.

My northern Florida experience is a bit different from Gundy's and yours. I just about always see every adult wearing a mask inside a store. The store mandates their employees wear masks, and also expects that of the patrons. Outside, most folk skip masks. So far, Florida has done better than expected in addressing the pandemic, and the data show it.

But, please remember: The Governor's original (and subsequent) emergency declarations -- last time I checked 2 weeks ago -- all remain in effect. (Well, OK. Some have been superseded, IIRC.) The "rules" we all know (mask, etc.) remain in those emergency declarations. Rather than have police enforce mask regulations, Florida expects everyone to deal with the pandemic in a responsible manner, whatever that is for the individual. Make no mistake about it, Florida is open for business, encouraging vacationers and party-goers to feel at home during their visits.

Curfew riots in Miami Beach have folks like Dr Fauci pointing to a possible C-virus increase. Could happen. But, it didn't happen after the Super Bowl in Tampa. If Florida succeeds in its wide open approach, perhaps it will become a model for other states. So far, so good (probably). For now, I'm just another spectator as Florida careens down the pandemic highway.

Quote: Gundy

How long before we can enter a casino without wearing a mask?

I'd put the line at six months.

Quote: Mission146

I'd put the line at six months.

Thanks. Six months seems about right to me too. A few of my buddies predict much sooner. I think they're too optimistic.

Of course, I'd prefer "no masks" starting yesterday.

Refreshing to go to Scarlet Pearl and see all plexiglass gone, tables at normal capacity. The theater of masks is almost gone. Thanks to Senator Rand Paul for that observation.

Quote: LuckyPhow

Gaming Looks Forward, Sort Of...

... As we successfully wrangle the C-virus through 2021, more and more conventions will again consider it safe to meet in large groups...

Earlier today I received an email from the US Chess Federation informing me of a tournament in Las Vegas this June. The Las Vegas International Chess Festival promises to provide safe over-the-board playing conditions. The announcement didn't describe their pandemic protection measures.

Clearly, these chess players aren't planning to wait until 2022. If meeting and convention organizers perceive "everyone else" is scheduling meetings, they may act for fear of having the "good" meeting dates fill up. Might lead to a stampede, don'cher know?

Quote: ChumpChange

Makes me want to win all the money before the banks fail.
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thats what I was thinking

Quote: oliverwilliams

Quote: ChumpChange

Makes me want to win all the money before the banks fail.
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thats what I was thinking
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A couple more posts and you can spam us with some links. Looking forward to it


ZCore13

Quote: Zcore13

Quote: oliverwilliams

Quote: ChumpChange

Makes me want to win all the money before the banks fail.
link to original post

thats what I was thinking
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A couple more posts and you can spam us with some links. Looking forward to it


ZCore13
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Not to worry. There are people in the hunting party with tags to fill.

Update: my state had a mask mandate from mid-December 2021 to mid-February 2022. Omicron 1 was the reason, as it spread so much faster than Delta. Omicron 2 is out there and cases are starting to rise and it spreads faster than Omicron 1. Daily new cases per 100K are around 10, but a month ago it was well over 50; masks shouldn't be disused until the number is under 10. The vaccine mandate in the state for visiting restaurants expired a month ago, but NYC and other areas may have local laws that still require them. A second booster is being recommended for people over 50 years old, but I haven't heard how long you should wait between booster shots. PS: A doctor on TV says people over 60 should get the 2nd booster 4-6 months after the first, and people over 50 are encouraged to get it. He also says schools and airplanes still need mask mandates until everybody under 5 has had a chance to get a vaccine. Not sure how to get a vaccine when the gov't has run out of money for them though.

There's no plastic barriers or social distancing or mask requirements at this time in many casinos, under the assumption that you've had plenty of time to get vaccinated or you have a death wish. You can still get COVID even if you're boosted. I saw a tweet yesterday from a guy onboard a cruise ship and everybody needed to be boosted to get onboard, yet they all came down with COVID. I don't know if that boat will be prohibited from disembarking its passengers like we saw early on in the pandemic.

death wish???

My report:
Last visit was a week ago. Website still said masks required, precautions in place.
They had the secondary entrances open, which was new. 4 months ago, it was primary entrance only. Guard asked me to lower my mask for the camera, then mentioned that they had stopped requiring masks 2 weeks ago (so... three weeks ago from "now").

Plexi was up for blackjack and carnival card games. Plexi was down for slots, but "enhanced spacing" layout was still in effect on the slot floor.
Plexi was down for dice, and it distinctly looked like new dice tables (different color wood, different style base; possibly the plexi mounting screwholes were enough of an excuse to update).

Steakhouse and buffet still closed.

This has been decidedly one of the more infection-cautious properties in my travels. Other properties a few hours away were generally less cautious earlier. State mandates were lifted a month or three ago.

Vote with your feet!