Poker players across the world are taking a keen interest in a new product being developed
by Screaming Images.
In health and safety guidelines recently released by the Gaming Control Board, casinos in the
state have been instructed to follow specific medical requirements and look for new ways to
help employees feel safe returning to work. About 450,000 people are employed by the gaming
and tourism in Las Vegas.
One of the measures being seriously considered is a device by Screaming Images, a local Las
Vegas company. The new safety shield can be implemented for use at table games and slot
machines.
At table games, the shield would separate players from dealers. At slot machines, it would
create a protective layer between two machines.
With some of the world’s best and biggest poker rooms in the world dotting the Las Vegas strip,
poker players can expect to see a safety shield at the tables when casinos are given the green
light to reopen.
Made of clear acrylic, the safety shields can be custom-shaped to work at different tables and
at various casinos, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. What’s more, the shields are designed
so that they won’t fog up at the tables, and they can be cleaned and disinfected easily.
The safety shields are stable and secure enough to feel permanent, however they don’t require
screws to install, so there’s no damage to a poker table or its felt. Should we enter a world
where COVID-19 is no longer a concern, the safety shields can be easily removed.
When poker rooms reopen in Nevada, players can expect to see 4-max tables — a concept that
doesn’t lend itself to good poker. There is some hope that a safety shield concept could create
a safe environment that will allow for more players at a table.