While COVID-19 cases keep rising and uncertainty abounds, many people are worried we could see another shutdown.

While COVID-19 cases keep rising and uncertainty abounds, many people are worried we could see another shutdown.

Speculation continues over what may be built on a recently-acquired 12.1-acre property near the Las Vegas Strip. The vacant parcel is also close to the planned 1,500-room Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, scheduled to open in January.

Las Vegas is known as America’s playground, a place where adults can indulge in their vices and leave it all behind. But when it comes to turning a profit, sin is less important to Las Vegas Strip casino operators’ bottom line than business conferences and tour groups that fill hotel beds and restaurant dining rooms from Sunday night through Wednesday night.

Las Vegas is home to the most financially stressed population in America because of the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic, according to a report released this week.

The COVID-19 recession is now hardly impacting employment for high-wage workers, while job losses continue for low-wage workers — according to new labor data from the Opportunity Insights economic tracker. Employment rates are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels for salaries over $60,000 per year, while employment for workers who earn under $27,000 is down 19% compared to January.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the valley’s casino-heavy economy, but there are still “help wanted” signs to be found.

Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in the locals’ casino region near Las Vegas jumped 10 percent in August compared to the month in 2019, according to recently released data.

The aviation industry has been among those hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, but federal assistance has so far enabled most airlines to avoid widespread layoffs. With that protection nearing its end, executives and labor leaders are pressing Congress to approve more aid, but it is not yet clear if further help is coming.

In 2020, there were 39,829 forest fires across the United States. Combined, they damaged 4 million acres in total. Ninety percent of fires are caused by people. This means that whether they’re caused by power lines, arson, or cigarettes, a majority of what you hear on the news could have been prevented. Of course, this means the remaining 10 percent of wildfires caused by nature are unavoidable.

Las Vegas gaming business is rebounding on weekends, says a casino industry chief. However, Jim Allen, the Hard Rock International Chairperson, says weekdays have remained “soft.”

As convention cancellations continue in Las Vegas over COVID-19 concerns, the economic impact spans across multiple industries, affecting businesses many wouldn’t imagine.