Las Vegas casinos are about to reopen, and photos show that plexiglass shields, hand-washing stations, and out-of-service slot machines will be the new normal

Madeline StoneJun 4, 2020, 01:57 IST

Plexiglass safety shield dividers are shown attached to a mini-baccarat table at Bellagio Resort & Casino as the Las Vegas Strip property prepares to reopen.Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Some hotels and casinos will be reopening on the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday after closing in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Casinos will be required to have a plan for proper hygiene and social distancing before they can reopen.
At Bellagio and other MGM Resorts properties, hand-washing stations and plexiglass shields have been set up on the casino floor.

Nevada is allowing some hotels and casinos to reopen on Thursday as part of the second phase of the state's reopening plan.

But Las Vegas casinos won't look quite the same as they did before the coronavirus pandemic. Before reopening, casinos must submit a plan to the Nevada Gaming Control Board that ensures proper hygiene and social distancing measures will be in place.

For MGM Resorts, whose Las Vegas properties include Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and New York-New York, that means enacting a "Seven-Point Safety Plan" that calls for employee screening, social distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols, and hand-washing stations on casino floors. Employees will be required to wear masks, while guests will be encouraged to do so. In some parts of the resort, like at roulette tables, guests will be required to wear masks.

MGM Resorts gave an early look at its new health and safety measures to Getty Images photographers at Bellagio, which has been closed since March 17.

Here's what they saw:

MGM Resorts plans to reopen Bellagio, New York-New York, MGM Grand, and The Signature on Thursday. The Cosmopolitan, Caesars Palace, Circus Circus, Flamingo, Palazzo, Sahara, Strat, Treasure Island, The Venetian, Wynn, and Encore are also reopening on the Strip.

A sign announces the June 4 reopening date at Bellagio Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, where most businesses have been closed since March 17. Mario Tama/Getty Images

MGM Resorts plans to reopen Bellagio, New York-New York, MGM Grand, and The Signature on Thursday. The Cosmopolitan, Caesars Palace, Circus Circus, Flamingo, Palazzo, Sahara, Strat, Treasure Island, The Venetian, Wynn, and Encore are also reopening on the Strip.

Resorts are encouraging guests to use their mobile check-in process.

A sign displays instructions for mobile check-in near the lobby of Bellagio Resort & Casino as the Las Vegas Strip property prepares to reopen on June 1, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

They can also use the hotel's digital key technology to enter their rooms.

GM Resorts Vice President of Hotel Operations Andy Meese demonstrates the ability for guests to get into their rooms using a digital key on a cell phone at Bellagio Resort & Casino. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

But if guests opt to check in in person, they'll see plexiglass shields at the reception desk.

Plexiglass safety shield dividers are shown at the check-in desk at Bellagio Resort & Casino as the Las Vegas Strip property prepares to reopen on June 1, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Monitors show the resort's safety guidelines, which include wearing a mask in public places and maintaining a six-foot distance from others.

A monitor displays safety information at Bellagio Resort & Casino as the Las Vegas Strip. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

There are also hand sanitizer stations in the lobby and in the gaming area.

A hand sanitizer dispenser is placed in the lobby at Bellagio Resort & Casino. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

On the casino floor, machines are set up so that every other seat is out of service.

Socially-distanced video poker machines are shown with every other game out of service at Bellagio Resort & Casino on June 1, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Signs on machines remind players the changes are in keeping with social distancing.

A social distancing placard is in place on a slot machine that is turned off at Bellagio Resort & Casino as the Las Vegas Strip property. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Plexiglass shields are set up at craps tables ...

Plexiglass safety shields are shown attached to a craps table at Bellagio Resort & Casino as the Las Vegas Strip property prepares to reopen on June 1, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

... and at blackjack tables.

Plexiglass safety shield dividers are shown attached to a blackjack table at Bellagio Resort & Casino as the Las Vegas Strip property prepares to reopen on June 1, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

There won't be plexiglass shields at the roulette tables, however, because players have to reach across the table to place their bets. Players will be required to wear masks.

A roulette table is shown at Bellagio Resort & Casino as the Las Vegas Strip property prepares to reopen on June 1, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

There won't be plexiglass shields at the roulette tables, however, because players have to reach across the table to place their bets. Players will be required to wear masks.

The casino floor has its own hand-washing station as well.

A new hand-washing station is set up on the gaming floor at Bellagio Resort & Casino as the Las Vegas Strip property. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Seats in the sportsbook are spaced apart for social distancing.

The BetMGM Sports Book at Bellagio Resort & Casino Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Restaurants in the MGM Resorts properties have implemented new processes for mobile ordering.

A sign outside Cafe Gelato displays a message for new options for contact-less ordering at Bellagio Resort & Casino. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

At Sadelle's, in Bellagio, seats are spaced apart. There's also an area designated for bartenders to make drinks at a distance from customers.

A bar is set up with seats spaced out for social distancing at Sadelle's restaurant at Bellagio Resort & Casino. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

It's a similar scene at the pool deck, where chairs and umbrellas were placed apart from each other.

Chairs and umbrellas are spread out for social distancing at a pool at Bellagio Resort & Casino. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Floor stickers also remind guests to keep with social distancing while visiting the resort's botanical gardens.

A social distancing decal is shown on the floor of the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio Resort & Casino. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

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Las Vegas casinos are about to reopen, and photos show that plexiglass shields, hand-washing stations, and out-of-service slot machines will be the new normal

MGM Resorts plans to reopen Bellagio, New York-New York, MGM Grand, and The Signature on Thursday. The Cosmopolitan, Caesars Palace, Circus Circus, Flamingo, Palazzo, Sahara, Strat, Treasure Island, The Venetian, Wynn, and Encore are also reopening on the Strip.

Resorts are encouraging guests to use their mobile check-in process.

They can also use the hotel's digital key technology to enter their rooms.

But if guests opt to check in in person, they'll see plexiglass shields at the reception desk.

Monitors show the resort's safety guidelines, which include wearing a mask in public places and maintaining a six-foot distance from others.

There are also hand sanitizer stations in the lobby and in the gaming area.

On the casino floor, machines are set up so that every other seat is out of service.

Signs on machines remind players the changes are in keeping with social distancing.

Plexiglass shields are set up at craps tables ...

... and at blackjack tables.

There won't be plexiglass shields at the roulette tables, however, because players have to reach across the table to place their bets. Players will be required to wear masks.

The casino floor has its own hand-washing station as well.

Seats in the sportsbook are spaced apart for social distancing.

Restaurants in the MGM Resorts properties have implemented new processes for mobile ordering.

At Sadelle's, in Bellagio, seats are spaced apart. There's also an area designated for bartenders to make drinks at a distance from customers.

It's a similar scene at the pool deck, where chairs and umbrellas were placed apart from each other.

Floor stickers also remind guests to keep with social distancing while visiting the resort's botanical gardens.