Las Vegas to Step Up Mask Enforcement

This week this Nevada Gaming Control Board announced that they will begin stepping up enforcement of the state's mask mandate ahead of New Year's Eve, when an estimated 300,000 people will flood to Las Vegas.

The gaming regulator stated that there could be disciplinary action if the state's casinos don't enforce the mask mandate, which is formally known as Emergency Directive 45. That directive mandates that masks be worn inside buildings, regardless of vaccination status and was signed by Governor Steve Sisolak.

Las Vegas has struggled mightily during the pandemic, as the city's casinos were forced closed at the beginning of the pandemic. They were later re-opened in a limited capacity, and with social distancing and other safety measures in place. Sin City has largely reverted to normal, as capacity limits have been lifted, and with many spots not enforcing mask mandates. This has changed a bit with the spread of the Omicron variant, which is showing to be much more contagious than the original strain of Covid-19 and its Delta variant.

The statement from the NGCB said in part: "With another sharp increase in cases of COVID-19 occurring in Nevada, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (Board) expects each of its licensees to ensure compliance with Governor Sisolak's Emergency Directive 045, which adopts all recommendations promulgated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) related to masks.

"As Nevada prepares for a substantial rise in visitation for the New Year's holiday, the Board will intensify its enforcement of Emergency Directive 045 at all licensed locations subject to the mask requirement to ensure the safety of Nevada's residents and visitors.

"The Board reminds its licensees, gaming employees, and the general public that a licensee in violation of any federal, state or local law or regulation is a violation of Nevada Gaming Commission Regulation 5.011, and that the Board may seek disciplinary action by the Nevada Gaming Commission for any such violation."