MGM properties like a ghost town hours before closing on Las Vegas Strip — VIDEO
MGM Resorts International is closing its resorts in Las Vegas effective today.
The Las Vegas-based company operates Bellagio, the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Luxor, New York-New York, Excalibur,and Park MGM and owns 50 percent of CityCenter, which includes Aria and Vdara.
Casino operations were closing Monday and hotels were expected to be vacant sometime Tuesday.
At Bellagio, video machines were shutting down Monday shortly before midnight and a dwindling number of players were at the tables.
On Monday night, the MGM Grand was practically empty as the property prepared to close.
Fewer than a dozen people could be seen gambling on the vast MGM Grand casino floor Monday morning. There were two people playing blackjack, four surrounding a roulette wheel and two people playing craps. About four people were playing slots, and restaurants throughout the property were empty.
Final hotel checkout was to be Tuesday morning.
The company announced Sunday it planned to temporarily suspend operations at all Las Vegas properties “until further notice” effective Tuesday.
“Despite our commitment to dedicating additional resources for cleaning and promoting good health, while making difficult decisions to close certain aspects of our operations, it is now apparent that this is a public health crisis that requires major collective action if we are to slow its progression” a statement by CEO Jim Murren said. “Accordingly, we will close all of our Las Vegas properties as of Tuesday, March 17th, for the good of our employees, guests and communities. This is a time of uncertainty across our country and the globe and we must all do our part to curtail the spread of this virus. We will plan to reopen our resorts as soon as it safe to do so and we will continue to support our employees, guests, and communities in every way that we can during this period of closure.”
MGM Resorts said it is not taking reservations for arrivals before May 1 but said developments can be found at www.mgmresorts.com.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
