The iconic Mirage in Las Vegas, an MGM Resorts casino on the Strip, will reopen Aug. 27. But another MGM property, Park MGM (formerly Monte Carlo), will remain closed, and there’s no timetable for its reopening.
The Las Vegas Strip is slowly but surely beginning to resemble its pre-coronavirus self. By Labor Day Weekend, only one of the Strip’s mega-resorts will still be closed — Park MGM. Tropicana still hasn’t reopened, but announced on Friday it will do so on Sep. 1, just in time for Labor Day Weekend.
Looking forward to strong cocktails and sunshine when we reopen on September 1st. #TropLV pic.twitter.com/ioSwHW2kDf
— Tropicana Las Vegas (@TropLV) August 14, 2020
Neither Park MGM nor Tropicana have poker rooms. Both casinos did previously offer poker, but both rooms were eliminated years ago. Mirage, on the other hand, has a popular 12-table card room that’s been out of business since mid-March. MGM Resorts has yet to determine if or when the poker room will reopen.
No Poker Yet at Mirage, No Anything at Park MGM
Mirage’s poker room isn’t as popular as it once was, although it was often packed prior to COVID-19, especially on weekends. During the 1990s, it was the top spot for high-stakes poker before Bobby’s Room at Bellagio opened. All the top grinders 20 years ago, such as Doyle Brunson and Daniel Negreanu, were regulars in that card room. Before COVID-19, the card room spread almost exclusively low-stakes No-Limit Hold’em cash games.
The mega-resort built by casino mogul Steve Wynn in 1989 will reopen, along with its 3,000-room hotel, on Aug. 27. Health and safety precautions will be put in place, including limiting capacity to 50% and requiring face masks unless patrons are eating, smoking, or drinking, per Nevada Gaming Control Board regulations.
South of the Mirage on Las Vegas Boulevard, the newly renovated Park MGM will remain closed, according to an email sent to its employees.
Park MGM/Nomad are likely not reopening any time soon pic.twitter.com/t8bxgk2xlN
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) August 14, 2020
Things don’t look promising for the casino to reopen any time soon. The email makes it clear that Park MGM isn’t MGM Resorts’ top priority right now.
“I wish I could tell you with some certainty when that will change, but at this point, it’s not possible,” the email stated in regard to a reopening date. “Since the start of reopening our properties, we have said that this would be a long process and that we would continually re-evaluate in coordination with business demands, and in keeping with our health and safety guidelines.”
MGM Resorts operates nine casino hotels on the Strip. As of now, seven have reopened, with Mirage ready to join the party in two weeks. Park MGM will be the only MGM property closed during the busy Labor Day Weekend.
