Las Vegas casinos issue new Covid-19 rules for gamblers

Las Vegas casinos have imposed a requirement to wear face masks at gaming tables after an increase in coronavirus cases in Nevada.

US.- Las Vegas casinos have issued new protocols for gamblers due to an increase in Covid-19 cases in Nevada.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board updated its health and safety policy required for the reopening of casinos with tightened rules for gamblers at tables. Casinos must now require players to wear protective face coverings.

The board said in a statement: “Licensees must require patrons to wear face coverings at table and card games if there is no barrier, partition, or shield between the dealer and each player. This requirement applies to table and card game players, spectators, and any other person within 6 feet of any table or card game.”

The new protocol applies to gamblers playing on blackjack, roulette, craps, poker and other table games, and all casino employees. Players using machinese are not required to wear masks but are encouraged to do so.

Other rules relate to dealers, since they remain in one location for an hour at a time and are exposed to hundreds of people every day.

Control Board Chairwoman Sandra Morgan said: “We were at least able to agree that face coverings (were needed) at table games, if there’s not going to be Plexiglas or any other kind of barrier. The lack of individual patron responsibility is disappointing to say the least. So we have to do at least what we can to ensure that the gaming employees have some protection as well.”

Casinos across the state began reopening on June 4 after being closed since March because of Covid-19 restrictions.

Nevada health officials have reported more than 12,000 cases of Covid-19 and 475 deaths from the disease.