Vaccines will be available through April and May

Golden Entertainment Inc. has joined the Nevada COVID-19 inoculation bandwagon by offering staff and their families vaccinations at a choice of six casinos it operates in the state.

Starting as early as Monday, April 12 in Vegas, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccinations will be available at the Nevada gaming properties throughout April and May via on-site clinics hosted by Albertson’s, Vons, and Safeway.

starting as early as Monday, April 12 in Vegas

The three Vegas shot sites named are Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and Boulder, and The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod, while those in Laughlin, Nevada are Aquarius Casino Resort and Edgewater Casino Resort. Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino is also offering coronavirus vaccinations at Golden Entertainment’s titular Nevada location.

According to an official press release on April 9 announcing the vaccination clinics, there are almost 6,000 staff employed at Golden Entertainment-run casinos, PT’s Tavern establishments, and gaming route operations in Nevada.

Shots come with sweeteners

Golden Entertainment is throwing in a few sweeteners to encourage staff to take the needle. These include $25 gift cards, swag bags, 10% coupons to redeem at Albertsons, Vons, or Safeway, plus the chance to win a staycation at one of its properties.

Golden Entertainment chair and CEO Blake Sartini said in the press release that the company was “strongly encouraging” its staff to get inoculated. Blake added:

We look to support the recovery of our hospitality industry in Nevada.”

The gaming operator is the latest big player in the Nevada gambling industry to get its employee vaccination groove on as May 1, the next stage in Governor Steve Sisolak’s Roadmap to Recovery, looms.

The incentive for gambling businesses to up their shots ante is clear. The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) issued a regulatory notice on April 3 stating that casinos showing “measurable and material steps to vaccinate” workers would be under consideration for increased capacity limits starting May 1.

Almost a quarter of Nevadans fully vaccinated

On Monday, the percentage of fully vaccinated Nevadans aged 16 or over stood at nearly 25%. The Nevada Health Response issued the latest data via Twitter:

Other Nevada casino operators already rolling out shots for staff include Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Red Rock Resorts, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and Las Vegas Sands.

On April 8, Wynn Resorts issued an ultimatum to its Las Vegas workers. It stated that staff must either get vaccinated or report for weekly tests in order to avoid disciplinary action.