Hotels and Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip Close

Update 3/19/20: Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered all nonessential businesses in the state must shut down for 30 days as part of an effort to mitigate COVID-19, including all hotels and casinos.

After the COVID-19 crisis has slowed demand along the Las Vegas Strip, hotels and casinos are shutting down for the time being.

MGM Resorts International announced on Monday that it will be temporarily closings its 13 Las Vegas properties “until further notice,” which include the Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Luxor, New York-New York, Excalibur, and Park MGM.

Casino operations closed Monday, followed by hotel operations. The company will not be taking reservations prior to May 1.

“It is now apparent that this is a public health crisis that requires major collective action if we are to slow its progression,” Chairman and CEO Jim Murren said in a statement. “We will plan to reopen our resorts as soon as it (is) safe to do so and we will continue to support our employees, guests, and communities in every way that we can during this period of closure.”

MGM is also temporarily closing its MGM Northfield Park property in Ohio and its casinos in Maryland and Massachusetts.

MGM sent out a memo to employees saying it will give two weeks pay and extend health benefits for all part-time and full-time employees who are laid off. 

Wynn Resorts also said it will close its luxury properties, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, beginning 6 p.m on Tuesday. The company said it expects the closures to be in effect for two weeks.

Wynn CEO Matt Maddox said in a video to employees that economic hardships will intensify for the company, but full-time employees will still get paid.

“Our hotel occupancy will be in the low teens – and that, to me, is not our concern. What our concern is that we all get through this together,” he said.

Cosmopolitan Las Vegas announced it will close March 18 at 6 p.m. and remain closed until at least March 31. Employees will continue receiving full pay and benefits.

Las Vegas Sands announced that they will be closing The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, which includes The Palazzo and The Venetian Towers at 2 p.m. March 19 until at least April 1. Las Vegas Sands also said no layoffs or furloughs are on the table. 

Entertainments events on the Strip, including all Cirque du Soleil productions and David Copperfield’s MGM Grand magic show, have been suspended.

Caesars Entertainment Corp., who’s properties include Nobu Hotel, Bally’s and Caesats Palace, still remain open, though Caesars said will close all buffet until April 9 and canceled all ticketed live events at venues company-wide.

Members of the American Gaming Association, which represents the industry, have asked Congress for emergency financial assistance as the $260 billion industry at a “near standstill,” and additional funds are needed to support casino companies and their employees.