Stephen Paddock did not allow Mandalay Bay staff into his room for 3 days, while he stockpiled weapons.
Boyd Gaming, owner of Sam’s Town, Orleans Hotel, and 8 other Las Vegas area casinos, said it was changing its “Do Not Disturb” policy in the wake of the Mandalay Bay concert shooting. Boyd Gaming’s David Strow confirmed the policy change in a Fox 5 KVVU-TV interview.
In the interview, Strow said that Boyd Gaming’s staff will conduct “safety and welfare checks” on any hotel room which displays a “Do Not Disturb” sign for more than two days.
Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter, displayed a similar sign for at least 3 days without a check by Mandalay Bay. The shooting caused 58 deaths and over 540 injuries.
Because Paddock had several dozen guns into his hotel suite by the time of the shooting, Mandalay Bay’s management has been criticized for its privacy policies. Critics stated that MGM Resorts, owner of Mandalay Bay, could have averted the tragic shooting, had its policies been more stringent.
Steve Wynn on Customer Privacy
Steve Wynn, founder and CEO of Wynn Resorts, told Fox News that his casino company checks on any room which displays a “Do Not Disturb” sign for more than 12 hours. The flamboyant chairman of Wynn Resorts implied that one of his casinos never would have had such a shooting, due to its policies.
During his Fox News appearance, Steve Wynn said, “Being in a room for three days in a ‘do not disturb’ situation? That would’ve triggered an alarm here. We’d go into the room. We’d want to know more about anybody who was sequestered in a room for more than 12 hours.”
MGM Resorts Increased Security
In the wake of the shooting, MGM Resorts increased its security presence in its hotel-casinos, with random searches of customers’ bags. Wynn Resorts began using magnetic wands to check for firearms in response to the events.
Boyd Gaming “Do Not Disturb” Policy
Boyd Gaming lowered the amount of time it would wait to check on guests from 3 days to 2 days. David Strow, who is VP of Communications for Boyd Gaming, said that the policy now applies to all 10 of Boyd Gaming’s casinos in the Las Vegas Valley. Boyd Gaming owns gaming operations in 12 other locations across the United States, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana.
Strow told the news station in an email, “All guests are advised of this policy upon check-in.”
Transparency is another way the various operators differ. Boyd Gaming and Wynn Resorts each are transparent about their policies, while Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts keep their guest policies shrouded in secret.
Caesars Entertainment Privacy Policies
Erica Johnson-McElroy, a spokesperson for Caesars Entertainment, said her company does not offer public information on its guest policies, or how those policies have changed in the wake of the Stephen Paddock shootings.
Guest relations are important to all the casinos, though they take much different views of what their guests’ expectations are. MGM Resorts believes casino visitors prize privacy over other considerations, which is why they tend to have a more hands-off approach. Steve Wynn said that guests do not mind a bit of an intrusion, so long as it is well-meaning and they are secure in the knowledge that the resort is safe.
Of course, the policies of the Big Four casino operators on the Las Vegas Strip have to do with clienetele. While all the Vegas Strip casinos want to attract high rollers, Wynn Resorts tends to cater to high-end customers. While one might expect such customers want privacy over security, that does not appear to be the case.
Las Vegas Strip Parking Fees
Another indication of the differences in clientele is the parking fee variations. In 2015 and 2016, MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment ended longstanding policies of free parking, much to the derision of the Las Vegas media and online gaming media. Las Vegas Sands Corp and Wynn Resorts continue to offer free parking to customers.
Boyd Gaming Profile
Though it is not one of the Big Four Las Vegas Strip casino companies, Boyd Gaming has a long history dating back to 1941. Sam Boyd began working as a dealer in Las Vegas in 1941, but eventually saved enough money to buy a share of the Sahara Hotel and Casino. Eventually, he became a partner in The Mint Las Vegas, but his big move was to buy the Eldorado Hotel alongside his son in 1962.
Sam Boyd bought the California Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas in 1975, but the building of Sam’s Town Casino on Boulder Highway in 1979 is when Boyd Gaming launched its own brand. Sam’s Town was a key moment for the “Boulder Strip” of off-the-Strip casinos. Boyd Gaming has continued steady growth as a significant Nevada-area casino operator in the decades since, and has expanded into other US states. For years, Boyd Gaming was a 50% owner of the Borgata in Atlantic City, but it eventually sold its share to MGM Resorts.
