Over 20 casinos are currently open in the United States of America with a handful more expected to open this weekend and next week. Several Las Vegas casinos, such as Venetian and Palazzo, are planning on reopening in June despite the fact that the USA leads the world in COVID-19 and COVID-related deaths. Casinos in Arizona and Louisiana are set to reopen by next week, with many other casinos rushing to get ready for a June return.
Well, that was fast. With parts of America reopening, the casino industry has also slowly began their recovering in a post-pandemic world. But is the "post" part of post-pandemic even right? Aren't we still in the middle of the pandemic? Well, I guess that depends on where you live in the USA because some states are reopening faster than others. And still yet, casinos that had been shuttered since March are gearing up for business from gamblers stuck in lockdown for over two months.
Deadwood, South Dakota had always made a name for itself as the gambling mecca of the late 1800s frontier. It is where Wild Bill Hickok got shot playing cards in a hole-in-the-wall slaoon and died at the table holding Aces and eights. Ho hum, the true "deadman's hand".
Is America currently holding two pairs with Ochos and Aces while casino operators rush to open up their doors?
Casino operators are known to be ruthless mofos that profit immensely off of problem gamblers, degens, and the poor decision-making of damaged people.
Corporations are cold-hearted bottomliners and casino corporations are filled with soulless ghouls that only care about profits over people. They certainly do not care about their employees and have much disdain for humanity in general. If any employees get sick, they'll be cast aside while someone else steps up into their place. With rampant unemployment, there's no shortage of desperate people whiling to thrust themselves on the front lines just to keep slots maniacs and table-game denizens content.
The casino game is a profitable hustle, but it's a hustle nonetheless. There are many intricate moving parts involved. Even in the new era of social distancing and masks, is it really going to help stem the flow of the virus? Or will it only accelerate the spread of it?
Sure, many casinos are not resuming poker... for now. There's not a faster way to spread gerns that handling community cards, chips, and sitting in cramped quarters with several other folks that often don't give a rats ass if they showered that day, let alone adhering to certain public health decrees in order to maintain proper health during an outbreak.
Many this is just fearmonger gibberish and the powers that be should let citizens make their own choices? Or maybe there's too much uncertainty and incompetence that that's not even tenable in this situation.
Las Vegas Mayor Goodman caught heat a couple weeks ago during here wine-drenched rant on CNN that they should open up casinos and let Vegas gamblers be test subjects or a control group. Even though everyone was up in arms over Mayor Goodman, a couple weeks later, major casino companies have began major steps to returning.
The Venetian and Palazzo, owned by the Sands Corporation (and that dark knight S.A.) were among the first casinos to let the world know they would be the first to open their doors on the Las Vegas Strip.
The Wynn hopes to open by Memorial Day the earliest but eying a June return.
If and when poker returns, it will only be four-handed. Which seems like that's better than nothing, but what's the point? What happens when someone sits out? Obviously the rake will not change and it could even increase. But action is action, right?
MGM wants to reopen as well and the company unveiled their 7 point safety plan. That includes no more buffets, lots of plexiglass, and hand sanitizing stations everywhere. They do not want gamblers standing aside from craps and no clustering of people. They also outlined temperature checks for all employees and guests.
The airline industry has been reduced by 97% over the last two months. With not many people flying, Vegas could be a destination for people itching to gamble via roadtrip. Anyone within a day's drive to Vegas could certainly hop in their vehicles and give it a go. And if you're really hurting for action, you can take a true roadtrip across the land of the brave and the free and drive from the East Coast to Vegas to get your gamble on.
Over 20 casinos reopened in America with almost half in Deadwood, South Dakota. Several more will open up in Arizona this weekend. Louisiana has several casinos that will reopen next week, despite the fact that New Orleans had been one of the epicenters of the coronavirus outbreak in the southern US.
Caveat emptor!
