Casino revenue down in Nevada a month since reopening
Nevada casino revenue is down 45.6 per cent since reopening in June, according to a new report from iGaming Business.
In the first month since the COVID-19 pandemic forced casino to close their doors, Nevada casino revenue reached $566.8 million, down 45.6 per cent year-on-year, with sportsbooks reporting their first monthly loss in almost seven years.
Nevada casinos have been permitted to open since June 4, after closing in mid-March due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
June’s results included the full range of casino games for the first time since March.
Revenue for June was down 8.3 per cent compared to March’s total.
The state’s $566.8 million in revenue came on player stakes totalling $8.2 billion, down 31.4 per cent from June 2019.
Pokie machine revenue was down 28.1 per cent year-on-year to $394.1 million, as players staked $7.04 billion, down 24.1 per cent.
Boyd Gaming announces casino worker layoffs
A United States casino company with 29 properties in 10 states is laying off thousands of employees.
The Rolla Daily News reported in early July that the coronavirus pandemic and the slow rebound from casino closures is behind the layoffs.
Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming said in a statement this week that an unspecified number of furloughed workers will not return.
The Las Vegas Review Journal reported 2,500 company workers in Nevada could be affected.
“While we have been able to reopen most of our properties, we’re still facing significant restrictions on our business, and visitation levels remain well below pre-pandemic levels,” Boyd said.
In May, the company posted under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 that it might let go 25 per cent to 60 per cent of its workforce.
It said Monday’s layoffs were at the “lower end” of the projection.
The publicly traded company had about 10,000 employees in Nevada and another 14,300 nationally, according to its last annual report.
It has properties in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Company spokesman David Strow said on Tuesday that all company casinos have reopened, except three in Las Vegas.
The Nevada closures in mid-March followed an order by Governor Steve Sisolak aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19.
NagaWorld to reopen in Cambodia following virus closure
Cambodia’s largest casino operator plans to partially reopen its flagship Phnom Penh gaming venue today following its three-month COVID-19 shutdown.
Calvin Ayre reports NagaCorp has decided, in agreement with Cambodia’s Ministry of Health, to reopen the company’s VIP table game and pokie machine elements at its NagaWorld casino.
Mass market gaming operations will reopen at an unspecified later date.
NagaCorp claims the agreement was signed with the government on June 30, four days prior to the government officially announcing its decision to permit the country’s casino to reopen.
The government ordered all casinos to close on April 1 to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
NagaWorld’s restart was subject to the Ministry approving certain health and safety measures, which reportedly occurred following a physical inspection of the casino on July 4.
Pokies capacity will be reduced to 50 per cent, while gaming tables will be limited to three customers apiece – effectively 43 per cent capacity and no ‘standing’ bets will be permitted.
The casino’s food and beverage outlets have been given the all clear to operate at 50 per cent capacity, but the buffet remains off limits
