Boyd Gaming Corp. joined a growing list of Las Vegas casino operators in providing free COVID-19 vaccinations for its employees, which is part of an effort by state gaming regulators to inoculate frontline gaming workers.
In-house clinics have been launched in the past few weeks by MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resort, Las Vegas Sands, Red Rock Resorts, Golden Entertainment, and the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
In a memo to employees Friday, Boyd said the company would set up vaccine centers Wednesday through April 26 at Orleans Casino and April 28-May 2 at Aliante Casino for its Las Vegas-area employees and family members to receive the vaccine.
Nevada opened its COVID-19 vaccine efforts earlier this month to all residents age 16 or older.
“After a challenging year, we are at a critical point in the fight against COVID-19.” Boyd Gaming Senior Vice President of Operation s Steve Schutte said in the memo. “While the governor recently announced that many restrictions will soon be ending, widespread vaccinations and continued mask-wearing will be critical to keeping yourself, your fellow team members and our guests safe, and finally ending this pandemic.”
Nevada gaming regulators said they won’t relax the 50% statewide COVID-19 capacity restriction on casino floors throughout the state until a large portion of the gaming industry’s hospitality workers had been vaccinated against the virus.
The Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission made the announcement through an unusual joint memorandum signed by both Board Chairman Brin Gibson and Commission Chairman John Moran Jr., just prior to Easter Weekend.
Boyd Gaming spokesman David Strow said the company wasn’t publicly disclosing its current vaccination rates for its employees.
“We continue to strongly encourage our entire workforce to get vaccinated as soon as possible and have been offering a full paid day off to team members once they complete their vaccinations,” Strow said.
Boyd has 10 properties in the Las Vegas area. The company also has 17 regional gaming properties in nine states, but Strow said the company has made similar plans on markets outside Nevada.
Nevada’s governor is planning to turn the state’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts over to local governments on May 1 and hopes the state’s businesses will return to 100% capacity by June 1. Nevada gaming regulators have the ultimate authority over the casino industry.
“We all want life to return to normal, but the next step is up to you,” Schutte told Boyd workers. “I strongly urge every team member to do their part by getting vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
