Wynn CEO makes the case to reopen Las Vegas resorts, which may include poker rooms

Jamie
Posted on: April 21, 2020 09:55 PDT

Will cards be in the air again at Las Vegas poker rooms in the near future? If Wynn Resorts has its way, yes.

The CEO of Wynn Resorts is calling for parts of Nevada to reopen next month. In a recent opinion piece published in The Nevada Independent last weekend, Wynn CEO Matt Maddox argues that Stephen Sisolak, the Governor of Nevada, should reopen the state.

Nevada, like much of the country, has seen its economy battered due to the COVID-19 shutdown. Many argue that Nevada is one of the hardest-hit states in the US, particularly with the Las Vegas economy almost entirely dependent on tourists and conference attendees.

Maddox believes that an incremental reopening makes sense, rather than a hard-and-fast return to normal. The incremental approach would include wearing masks, increasing testing, and monitoring data. What’s more, social distancing practices would be enforced.

Should a spike in cases occur and the healthcare system be jeopardized, the state would pull back.

Wynn Resorts was among the first Las Vegas resorts to close its doors and respond to the pandemic. When they shut their doors, the company asked 15,000 employees to stay home, with pay for 60 days of work. Wynn has paid both full-time and part-time team members at a cost of $3 million per day.

Wynn is home to a large poker room with 28 tables. It ranks among the top poker rooms in Sin City, a list that includes The Venetian, Aria, MGM Grand, Caesars, and Bellagio.