MGM Resorts International told its customers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 they could remove their masks starting Friday.
But employees of the company’s nine Strip resorts have to wait.
In a letter posted Friday morning, MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the company’s workforce, even those fully vaccinated, are still required to wear masks while on property.
“We hope to announce updates to this policy soon,” Hornbuckle said.
The move comes a day after Nevada gaming regulators allowed casinos to decide their own mask policies after the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on Thursday said individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 could resume activities without wearing facial coverings in indoor or outdoor settings.
“We will no longer require fully vaccinated guests to wear masks at any of our Las Vegas properties,” Hornbuckle said.
The Gaming Control Board is leaving the decision up to gaming operators if they wish to confirm a customer’s vaccination status. Wynn Resorts removed its mask requirement for vaccinated guests Thursday night.
Casinos, however, are encouraged to post signage with the latest CDC mask guidance for vaccinated and unvaccinated guests. The CDC recommended people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 continue to wear masks.
Board Chairman Brin Gibson said gaming agents, “will not attempt to confirm vaccination status of patrons. Consequently, unless circumstances change, it is not practical for the board to attempt to enforce a mask mandate tethered to an individual’s vaccination status.”
Earlier this week, MGM Resorts was one of several casino operators approved by the Control Board to return their casino floors to 100% capacity without social distancing measures. Regulators cited the companies’ efforts in vaccinating their workforce against COVID-19.
In his letter, Hornbuckle suggested employees who have been vaccinated upload the information from their CDC vaccine card into the company human resources management system.
Hornbuckle suggested that unvaccinated MGM Resorts employees get a free shot at the company’s vaccine clinic at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
“As I have said before, vaccination is a critically important tool in protecting each other and our communities, and this newest update represents another major step in restoring our economy and industry,” Hornbuckle said.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
