Spotlight

Photo from Reuters The Las Vegas Strip was once again lit up as casinos reopened early Thursday after being shut down for 78 days due to the coronavirus.

Traffic on Strip a welcome sight

A few weeks ago, I was up early and I decided to take a drive around Las Vegas.

My journey led me to the south end of the Strip and at 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday, things normally tend to be somewhat peaceful. But this time, it was even quieter than usual. Save for a stray jogger or two or a person waiting for a bus, it was eerily quiet on both sides of Las Vegas Boulevard.

Mandalay Bay. The MGM Grand. Bellagio. Caesars Palace. The Flamingo. Treasure Island. Venetian. Wynn. Circus Circus. All dark and still.

This is what the coronavirus had wrought. It had rendered one of the world’s most vibrant cities dormant.

Countless times as I sheltered in place and had my flat screen on in the living room, I would watch commercial messages that proclaimed “We’ll get through this together” or “We’ll come out the other side” or “Better days are coming.” I would optimistically think they were right. Or at least I would hope they were correct with their predictions.

Today, those prophecies begin to come true. Las Vegas is reopening, and perhaps reinventing itself

From the Editor

Steve Carp

@stevecarp56

as well. The lights have come back on. Many casinos opened their doors just after midnight welcoming back customers. Employees who have spent the last 2 1/2 months wondering what would become of their futures were returning to work.

It’s a welcome step, one which I hope leads to more and bigger ones. Ultimately, we want to see all the casinos back in business, all the hotel rooms filled, all the employees working. But it may take some time and a lot of patience on the industry’s part.

We know how important tourism is to Las Vegas, and in general, to Nevada. People from all over the world come to visit with the same goal — to have fun. They want to have the full “Vegas experience,” which in the summer means hanging out at a pool dayclub, going out for a nice dinner, seeing a show, doing some gambling and then hitting a nightclub.

But that may take a while. Remember, we’re still in Phase 2 of the Governor Steve Sisolak’s Reopen Nevada plan. The coronavirus has not disappeared. It is still lurking, waiting to attack. That means we’re still expected to wear a mask, social distance ourselves from one another, use hand sanitizer and protect ourselves.

Some of you will have no problem adjusting. Others may decide they’re not ready to be out and about in public, mask or not. It could be for medical reasons or simply personal preference. That’s your decision and far be it for me to tell you how to act. Your own safety should always be first and foremost.

The casinos also want you to feel safe and they’ve taken extraordinary steps to see that you are comfortable when you visit. We’ve been through the steps with you already so you know what the drill is.

When will I know Las Vegas is truly back? When I see long lines at the TSA checkpoints at McCarran International Airport. When there are lines to get a cab or a ride share from the airport to the hotel. When they’re standing twoor three-deep at the craps table cheering on a shooter who is on a hot run. When we have conventions and fans at hockey and football games.

Today is not that day. But that day is coming. We have to start somewhere on the road back to economic recovery. It has been a time unlike any in our lives. We are facing medical challenges, financial challenges along with social challenges as a city, as a state, as a nation and as a planet. We are being challenged in many different ways and history will remember our response.

The reopening of the casino industry in Las Vegas is a small part of that history. We have been through a lot as a community and we are looking to reclaim our lives.

Driving to a casino, parking our car (for free!), going to a slot machine, putting in our players’ club card, having a drink served to us, hopefully leaving with more money than when we came in, it’s all going to seem a bit strange but it’s going to feel wonderful.

Beating the dealer at blackjack. Sitting down with others at the poker table. Making a bet on a horse or a sporting event. That’s going to feel good too. Sitting and eating at a restaurant rather than swinging by for carry-out dinner will be a nice experience.

For those of you who plan to visit the Strip or your favorite neighborhood casino, have fun, stay safe and enjoy. You’ve earned it.

I have a feeling the next time I take a drive down the Strip, be it early or late, I won’t be alone. To tell you the truth, I won’t mind having the company. scarp@gamingtoday.com

CES plans to return in ‘21

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS many exhibit areas and providing

One of Las Vegas’ largest conmore space between seats in conventions is planning to return in ference programs and other areas 2021. where attendees congregate

The Consumer Electronics Show, * Issue best practices for attendwhich attracts over 4,400 exhibiees, such as wearing masks and tors and more than 175,000 attendavoiding shaking hands, and for ees, announced it is planning to exhibitors on product demonstraPhoto from CES Facebook hold its convention in January. tions The Consumer Electronics Show will be back in Las Vegas come January.

CES officials said part of the * Limit touch points throughout planning includes increased the facilities including through addition to the usual number of the Las Vegas Convention and Visihealth and safety measures in cashless systems for purchases in-person top-tier speakers. tors Authority and hotels venues, as the wake of the coronavirus panand transactions Planning for CES 2021 is underthey develop and implement their demic. * Evaluate solutions for contactway. Once again, we are focused re-opening plans,” CES’ statement @GamingTodayNews

In a statement, CES said several policies are being implemented: less thermal scans at key venue entry points on bringing you the most influential tech event in the world. Macontinued. “We are also working with leading event industry assoSpotlight......................3 * Regularly clean and sanitize spaces across the show venues and provide sanitization stations * Provide enhanced on-site access to health service and medical aid. jor brands are committed for the show, and we look forward to announcing another slate of top-tier ciations as they develop their best practices. And we will ensure our plans follow the recommendations College Football Back in Business ........ ........ 5 8 throughout * Better enable social distancing, including widening aisles in

CES officials added that more live-streamed seminars and exhibits will be included in 2021 in speakers.

An abstract noun we’ve seen and heard regularly over the last three condition will be impeded from leading full lives. Those who accept Entertainment..........19 months is “uncertainty.” It’s one of those vague words you can’t touch, that there are thousands of conditions we can’t control are more likely 702-798-1151 smell, or break down by chemical composition, but you sure can feel it. to lead happy and fulfilling lives. There’s a clear balance that must be GTPublisher@GamingToday.com

It drives people nuts that there is no certainty about what will happen both short- and long-term with this coronavirus. There are so many questions that need to be answered:

Will the summer heat help

Vegas Vibe

Jack Sheehan achieved between uncertainty and certainty. Those who are too sure of themselves and take that attitude towards everything they undertake are as unappealing, if not more so, than nervous Nellies who fret over every little detail in their lives.

“We are working closely with the Las Vegas community, including of public health experts and standards set by the federal, state and local governments.” Industry...................... NASCAR ..................... 13 14 Horse Racing............15 Uncertainty has been dominant Sportsbook Biz........16 Casino Games..........18

Will a vaccine be available sometime late this year or next year that will assure us that if we test positive for COVID-19, a shot or pill can be taken that makes it go away? @jacksheehanspks to his home in Santa Fe, I find myself reading them from time to time. And they’ve taught this old dog some new tricks.

I’ve never been one to consume books about philosophy or spiritual cleansing, but my 24-year-old son devours New Age tomes like doublefilled Oreos. Because his books are always left behind when he returns Bill Paulos © Paulos Sports, LLC 2020. All rights reserved. All content has copyright and trademark pending status. Reproduction or use, in whole or part, of the contents without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Member of: Nevada State Press Association, Associated Press. Published weekly by Paulos Sports, LLC, 9107 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89148 stifle it?

Will the loss of business, or the loss of a job, forever destroy our con• “Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what hapGabrielle Reisler fidence that a brighter day is on the horizon?

It’s somewhat surprising that uncertainty is so prevalent in the minds of all of us. It’s not like it’s a new emotion. Everything about our daily lives is uncertain, and we learn to deal with it. There is no pens outside. If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place.” • “Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find you’re here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally.” Advertising Sales DIRE CTOR

Publisher/CEO Howard Barish Managing Edito r/GM Steve Carp senio r edito r

Of course if we dwell on uncertainty it will turn us into a statue like would visit in calmer times. I’ve also chosen to do what I can to fix the throughout the paper. Writers’ Mr. Freeze, and we won’t be able to accomplish a fraction of the goals insides of my deeply flawed body and demeanor. selections are a guide to their we’ve set forth. So we deal with it. How well we deal with it in large Those are the best stopgaps I can use to stave off that dreaded conthinking on the game and their part determines our paths in life. dition known as uncertainty. Of that I am certain. choice for a possible bet based

Those who worry or fret about the fragility of their day-to-day JackSheehan@GamingToday.com. on the line they had available.

Lori Lewis PRODU CTI ON MANAGER

Chuck DiRocco

FOUNDER (1935-2004) certainty that although we might be vibrant and energetic today, our With the clouds of uncertainty that have hung over us these past lives and our health condition can change tomorrow. Every time I read few months, I’ve taken Tolle’s advice and chosen the third option. I’ve about a sudden death, it occurs to me that the person who died was come to the conclusion that there is nothing I can do about the spread Disclaimer: Each Gaming Today probably preoccupied with relatively trivial thoughts five minutes of this uncaring virus, so I’ve accepted it totally, with common sense writer uses the betting line availbefore the tractor-trailer ran over him. “Will my dry-cleaning be ready precautions. able to him at the time he makes this afternoon?,” “What am I going to fix for dinner?,” “Is that new tick I wear a mask. I wear gloves when I have to handle anything outside h is selections, so you may see medicine working on my dog?” … then … Boom! … and it’s over. the keyboard I’m currently mauling. I limit the unnecessary places I different lines on the same game

Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” is one I keep on a nightstand. Here are two pearls from that book: