Visitors happy to see Las Vegas casinos open again

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — What happens here is slowly starting to happen again. While shows and nightclubs around Las Vegas are still dark, the visitors started to return this weekend to play cards and enjoy their favorite slot machines.

“I’m tired of all the COVID stuff and lockdowns,” said Michael Secor, who flew in from Salem, Oregon with his father. “They opened up on the fourth and we were here on the fifth."

Michael said he and his father were already planning to return in a few months, and they were thrilled to be back. “I love Vegas,” said Michael Secor, Sr. “I probably lost about a grand or so this time, but who cares? I’m having a good time.”

John Marr, who drove in from Phoenix, said he was glad to be back, but clearly noticed Las Vegas isn’t back up to speed quite yet. “The one thing that I really noticed with seeing how blocks were empty. Like, we are staying at the Flamingo but to realize the Bally's, Paris and Planet Hollywood are all closed, so it’s like a dark section,” he said.

RELATED |Las Vegas city parking lots add QR payment codes, touchless ticket kiosks

Howard Stutz, the Executive Editor of the CDC Gaming Report, described the first weekend as 'muted,’ but said resort operators aren't disappointed.

“I think for the most part they’re going to say that they were pleased,” Stutz said, “it was what they expected this to be right now, the first weekend of everything open.”

Until the airlines start bringing passengers back to McCarran in large numbers, most will be driving-in from neighboring states. But, Stutz says many of the visitors will also be locals taking a staycation.

And, in the coming weeks, hotel operators will be fine-tuning the social distancing.

John Marr says he noticed one place for improvement only moments after he checked in.

“The humorous part about all of this is the limit of four people per elevator. That’s never gonna work!”