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Boyd Gaming properties in Las Vegas such as Sam’s Town on Boulder Highway will “remain open at this time,” the company announced. It’s closing properties in other markets because of COVID-19.
Sunday, March 15, 2020 | 11:15 a.m.
Boyd Gaming properties in Las Vegas will “remain open at this time,” the company said Sunday in a news release announcing the temporary closures of properties in other markets to prevent to spread of COVID-19.
Boyd said it will close its Par-A-Dice Casino in Illinois Sunday night in compliance with an order from the Illinois Gaming Board that required all casinos in the state to be closed until March 30.
Belterra Casino Resort in Indiana, the company said, will close Monday evening, also in response to order by the state’s gaming commission to close all casinos until March 30.
Boyd’s Belterra Park property in Ohio closed Friday in response to an order by the Ohio Department of Health that prohibits gatherings of 100 people or more in the state. There is no timetable for when that property might open again.
The company’s Valley Forge casino property in Pennsylvania closed last week and, as of now, is scheduled to remain shuttered until March 27.
Boyd operates 29 gaming properties in 10 states. Company officials say there have been no reported coronavirus cases at any Boyd properties as of Sunday morning.
At other Las Vegas casinos, gaming floors remained open Saturday night, but certain areas and departments have been or will temporarily close.
Shows have been postponed, sports books and poker rooms are closing and valet operations are being limited or shut down.
In an email Saturday, an MGM spokesman said the company does not have plans to close its Las Vegas casinos.
In Aria late Saturday night, patrons continued to play slot machines and table games. One employee said the property was much less busy in comparison to a regular Saturday night.
MGM sent a letter to employees Friday informing them of layoffs and furloughs, although the company didn’t indicate how many employees or which properties.
In recent days, MGM announced the temporary closure of casino properties in Ohio and New York.
Wynn Resorts on Friday announced its sports books and poker room at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore will close today, the result of the sports world essentially being put on hold due to the outbreak.
It’s all because of the global coronavirus pandemic, which has thrown America’s economy into distress.
In a typical year, this week is the busiest time for Las Vegas books because of the millions waged on the popular NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which was canceled earlier this month.
