2 MS Coast casinos require some staff vaccinations as Louisiana tightens COVID mandates
Salaried employees and new hires at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino are required to get vaccinated for the coronavirus, parent company MGM Resorts International announced Monday.
This comes as more casinos are requiring masks for staff, and New Orleans mandates proof of vaccine or a negative test to go inside a casino, bar or other indoor business.
MGM Resorts International operates the Beau Rivage in Biloxi and Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, and the order applies to more that 6,000 workers in eight states, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Salaried employees who are not working exclusively from home will be required to show proof of vaccination by Oct. 15 as a condition of employment. New MGM employees must get the vaccine before starting work, effective Aug. 30.
“I know that for some of you this may be an unwelcome development — a consideration that we did not take lightly when making this decision,” MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle said in a notice to employees.
“However, as one of the largest and most trusted operators and employers in our industry,” he said, “MGM Resorts is determined to do our part to curb the spread of the virus and help counter alarming trends in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Vaccination is the most effective tool in doing so.”
Masks already mandated
Beau Rivage required all employees, those vaccinated and unvaccinated, to wear masks starting July 29. Silver Slipper Casino in Hancock County and Palace Casino and Treasure Bay Casino in Biloxi also issued mask orders for employees.
Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville also issued a mask order and CEO LuAnn Pappas was the first casino operator in Mississippi to require vaccinations for all salaried employees. They were required to get their first shot by Aug. 14.
Both Scarlet Pearl and Beau Rivage management say they are looking to expand the vaccination requirements for hourly staff members.
MGM Resorts has about 57,000 employees nationwide. MGM spokesman Brian Ahern told The Nevada Independent that many of the hourly employees are covered under collective bargaining agreements, and discussions about vaccinations need to take place with the labor unions.
Mississippi casinos could get NOLA players
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell followed a mask mandate with the Aug. 12 order that proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test is required for anyone to go inside a casino, bar or other venues.
The order went into effect Monday, so it’s too soon to tell if more gamblers will drive to Mississippi, where masks are optional and the state Gaming Commission hasn’t ordered the return to masks for casino employees or customers.
In June, 240,000 Louisiana residents visited Mississippi casinos, or 19% of all customers. Mississippi residents account for 31% of the players at Mississippi casinos.
This story was originally published August 18, 2021 at 5:50 AM.
