The STRAT Casino Gets Nevada Gaming Board’s Nod to Up Capacity to 100%

  • Full casino occupancy, which the property announced Monday, is effective immediately
  • Other casinos in Vegas got NGCB permission to return to 80% capacity starting May 1
  • Visitor influx, plus upped capacity, means Vegas casinos are hitting hiring overdrive
  • 100-percenter casinos in Nevada can lift distancing and remove screens, but must keep masks on
The STRAT hotel casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
Sin City now has four casinos operating at full capacity, after The STRAT on Las Vegas Boulevard got Nevada Gaming Control Board approval to resume 100% capacity. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Sin City now has four 100-percenter casinos

The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has given the STRAT Hotel, Casino & Skypod the green light to raise its gaming floor capacity to 100%. The Golden Entertainment Inc.-owned STRAT announced its casino occupancy hike, which is effective immediately, on Monday.

casino floor is back at full capacity for the first time since reopening last year

The NGCB approval means The STRAT’s casino floor is back at full capacity for the first time since reopening last year.

Owner Golden Entertainment got in line with the NGCB’s April 3 regulatory notice that Nevada casinos demonstrating “measurable” efforts to vaccinate workers against COVID-19 could get capacity increased. It did this by offering its employees and their families shots at six of its Nevada properties starting April 12.

The STRAT vice president and general manager Stephen Thayer highlighted the diligence his team displayed in getting on board with the NGCB’s requirements. The STRAT’s efforts will, Thayer said, “not only advance us to the next step in safely reopening Las Vegas, but also enhance our guest experience.”

The STRAT now makes four casino-resorts on Nevada’s 100 percenter list, after Wynn Las Vegas, Encore Las Vegas, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas got the Gaming Board’s go-ahead last week.

Increased footfall requires extra staff

With Nevada casino owners and gamblers welcoming a return to full capacity, there is a pressing need to hire additional staff to service the extra headcount.

The STRAT wasted no time in addressing its need for workers. On Tuesday, it took to Twitter to announce a job fair set to take place at the property on May 20:

While only four casinos in Las Vegas can currently operate at full occupancy, all the other Sin City gambling facilities are back at 80% capacity after Clark County eased limits on May 1. What this means is that industry players in Las Vegas are also significantly ramping up recruitment as visitors return in their droves.

After NGCB officials confirmed The Cosmopolitan’s return to 100% capacity last Tuesday, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak congratulated the Strip hotel-casino for its “creative approach to incentivize health & safety within their workforce.” The Cosmopolitan encouraged its staff to take the needle with a time-sensitive cash bonus scheme.

Less than a month ago, MGM Resorts recruited over “100 people on the spot” at a job fair. Boyd Gaming, Circus Circus, Circa, Ellis Island Hotel, Fremont Street Experience, Golden Nugget, and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas are also actively hiring employees.

Distancing lifted, screens down, masks on

The STRAT on the Las Vegas Boulevard and the other three 100-percenter Strip casinos can now lift physical distancing limits and remove clear plastic screens from gambling tables. As per NGCB regulations, however, masks must stay on.

Stephen Thayer said The STRAT will maintain its support for “additional measures, including mask mandates, to provide a safe and healthy environment for team members and guests.”

The STRAT’s parent brand, Nevada-based Golden Entertainment, owns nine casino resorts and 60 pubs and taverns across the state. It also runs over 10,500 gaming devices both in Nevada and Montana.

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