As Nevada prepares to reopen its casinos and welcome back tourists, a new survey sheds light on what poker players and casino-goers expect when stepping back into their favorite gaming establishments — and whether they’ll be returning at all.
“We’ve been hearing a lot from industry leaders, which is fantastic, but what we didn’t find was anything from the industry’s biggest supporters — the actual gamblers,” said Georg Washington, CEO of Synergy Blue, the company behind the recent survey titled “Path Forward for Casinos in a Post-COVID World.”
Encouraging Signs for Casino Operators
The survey, conducted last month, brought promising news for Nevada casinos. A significant 71% of gamblers who plan to return said they would spend the same or even more than they did pre-pandemic. Key findings include:
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51% said they would gamble once casinos reopen.
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34% plan to return after stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures are lifted.
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26% will wait until there’s a drastic reduction in COVID-19 cases.
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21% said they’d return as soon as lockdowns end, regardless of safety protocols.
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19% plan to wait until a vaccine becomes available.
Why Poker Players Are Coming Back
For poker players, the motivation goes beyond just money. According to the report:
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56% said they’ll return because they miss the excitement of the casino environment.
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45% are drawn by a desire to return to normalcy, resuming routines from before the pandemic.
Online Gambling’s Surge Continues
The report also highlights a sharp rise in online gambling during the pandemic:
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64% of respondents gambled online or played mobile games during the lockdown.
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1 in 5 had never played online before but tried it during the pandemic.
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Of those who played online, an overwhelming 93% plan to continue even after restrictions are lifted.
These trends are in line with what sites like Americas Cardroom have experienced, with online tournaments often surpassing their guaranteed prize pools.
As Las Vegas card rooms get ready to shuffle up and deal once more, it’s clear players are eager to return — but not without expectations for safety, comfort, and familiarity.
