Since yesterday, Vegas casino occupancy is 25%. The decision comes as a part of Governor Sisolak’s efforts to curb down the COVID-19 pandemic that’s returned to the state. The new restrictions are likely to have a severe effect on the local economy, which relies on tourism.
Speaking of tourism in Nevada, hotels on the Las Vegas Strip are desperately trying to increase the number of visitors, offering some really affordable deals lately. In fact, room rates in Strip hotels have dropped by over 40%, with most resorts offering stays for under $50 per night.
Over in Michigan, DraftKings is adding an online casino and sportsbook to its fantasy sports platform. The casino/sportsbook is not yet launched, but account registrations are ongoing, with new players being rewarded $200 in free bets.
More good news for sports bettors is that we’re just one day from Mike Tyson’s comeback. The 54-year-old heavyweight legend is coming back into the boxing ring to face Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition bout on Saturday evening.
Vegas Casino Occupancy Reduced to 25%
Since Las Vegas casinos returned to business in June, they’ve been working at reduced capacity. Before Tuesday, the permitted occupancy was 50%, but Steve Sisolak’s new measures to combat the pandemic have reduced it even more.
Starting this week, the permitted Vegas casino occupancy will be 25%. The new rule will affect not only Nevada’s casinos but also all the bars and restaurants in the state.
Even though casinos are far from being the COVID-19 hotspots, the officials think the new measures are going to prevent chaos from ensuing in the future. According to Nevada Governor himself, the state was on the brink of another full shutdown, but, hopefully, such a scenario is not going to happen.
If it were to happen, it would wreak havoc on Nevada’s economy, which has been suffering terrible consequences throughout the year.
Las Vegas Hotel Room Rates Plunge by 40 Percent
Room rates in Las Vegas hotels haven’t been this low in a while. Some hotels have reduced them by 40% or more over the course of the last couple of weeks in order to make themselves more attractive to tourists.
As a result, many hotels on the Strip are offering stays for under $50 per night for two persons. On Booking.com, room rates of Las Vegas Strip properties go as follows:
- MGM Grand (Grand King 2-Bed Room) – $50
- Luxor (Tower Premium Two Queen Room) – $45
- New York New York (Park Avenue Two Queen) – $45
- Flamingo (Go Deluxe Room) – $45
- OYO Hotel & Casino (Standard King Room) – $35
The COVID-19 pandemic and the Vegas casino occupancy reduction are not the only reasons why tourists aren’t coming. Another explanation for the visitor draught is security. Less than a month ago, the city was the scene of numerous violent fights not just in the streets but also inside some popular venues on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Following Las Vegas Strip Violence, Metro police spokesperson blamed cheap hotel rooms for the spike in violent crime. Whether the additional price reduction is going to spark more violence remains to be seen.
DraftKings Online Casino & Sportsbook to Launch in Michigan
Michigan legalized sports betting in 2019, but online sportsbooks are yet to launch in this state. The launch was delayed by the pandemic, but the wait is soon to be over. Bettors from Michigan will get to place online wagers at one of several online sportsbooks, including BetMGM, Barstool, BetRivers, FanDuel, and DraftKings.
Although the launch date is not yet known, DraftKings has started with user registration. Whoever signs up to this sportsbook will get a $100 free bet. That’s not all; DraftKings is also launching its online casino in Michigan, which will also give a $100 bonus to new players.
The sportsbook and casino will not be standalone platforms. Instead, they are going to be added to the DraftKings Michigan DFS platform. What this means is that the players who already own an account with this operator will get to play casino games and/or place sports wagers without having to go through additional registration.
Unfortunately for sports bettors from Michigan, the new DraftKings online sportsbook will not launch in time for one of the biggest sports events in 2020. What we’re talking about is the Tyson vs Jones fight.
Sports Bettors Enthusiastic About Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr Fight
For offshore sportsbooks, the Presidential Election was the biggest betting event of the year. Due to the fact that US-based sportsbooks aren’t allowed to offer proposition bets, Americans had swarmed to offshore betting sites to bet politics ahead of the election.
History seems to be repeating itself right now. Ahead of the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. fight, offshore sportsbooks are handling a lot of money. The reason, once again, is that American sportsbooks aren’t allowed prop bets. Offshore sportsbooks like Bovada and BetOnline have no such restrictions. They get to offer whatever they want, including bets like the following:
- The fighter to bleed first – Tyson or Jones?
- Will the fight be stopped due to cuts?
- Fight to go the distance?
Still, despite the obvious lure prop bets have, most bettors seem to prefer putting their money on the fight winner. One day before the fight, Mike Tyson bears the role of the favorite, with the odds as short as -200.
Online Casinos Start Releasing Christmas Bonus Offers
Celebrations are going to be different this year, with most people staying home during the holiday season. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially in the era of the internet. With no need to go to a physical casino, one can stay home and play their favorite games.
There are plenty of interesting online slot games that can rekindle the Christmas spirit. What we’re talking about are user favorites like A Christmas Carol, Rudolph Awakens, and The Naughty List.
The best thing is that you can play some of these games for free. How? By grabbing bonuses offered by top casinos.
Even though the holiday season is in a month’s time, many operators have already started offering their Christmas bonuses and promos. Lincoln Casino, SlotoCash, Miami Club all belong to this list, and many other casinos are to join in the upcoming days.
To stay up to date with the best promotional offers, make sure to regularly visit MobileCasinoParty.
