Four years ago, Las Vegas’ casinos shut down for 78 days. The fallout was brutal

Four years ago few believed that Las Vegas’ casinos would be forced to close to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 virus that was rampaging worldwide.

But they did. And the fallout was brutal.

About a month after casinos in Macao were closed for 15 days to slow COVID’s spread, then-Gov. Steve Sisolak on March 17, 2020 ordered all casinos as well as restaurants, bars and other nonessential businesses in the state to close for 30 days.

“I remember the day of the closure and how striking that was,” said Virginia Valentine, president of the Nevada Resorts Association. “I also remember how focused the resort industry was on keeping employees and guests safe.”