Since March of 2020, the United States has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadly virus has claimed over 525,000 lives, with more than 29 million people testing positive in the country. Businesses have suffered from temporary and permanent closures, with the entertainment and hospitality industries among the hardest hit.
Las Vegas and Atlantic City are gambling towns that rely on tourism and require casino gaming and other entertainment, along with hotel stays and dining to survive.
When 2021 began, officials in both cities were hopeful. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak is pushing safety measures as a way to ramp up tourism in Sin City. Virus regulations are currently being lifted, but protections are still in place to help casinos and hotels get back to some sense of normalcy.
In Atlantic City, a recent survey involving the casino industry gives operators hope that there will be a change in tourism levels. The Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality, and Tourism (LIGHT) of Stockton University recently revealed the findings of a study where over 70% of those questioned stated they had plans to visit Atlantic City in the next six months.