MGM Resorts Shuts Down Las Vegas Buffets; Caesars Entertainment Remains Open

Mayor Carolyn Goodman Respects But Opposes Coronavirus Precaution

If you want a taste of an iconic part of Las Vegas – a casino buffet – then you will have to go someplace other than one of the MGM properties to get one.

In an anti-coronavirus measure, MGM Resorts International has temporarily closed all its buffets. The company has seven casinos on the Strip: ARIA, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Luxor and Excalibur.

However, buffets at Caesars Entertainment casinos remain open to the public.

“These changes are temporary and will be evaluated on a weekly basis,” MGM Resorts International said in a statement to the USA TODAY Network.

Caesars Entertainment stated that “we are incorporating cleaning and hygiene protocols into the buffets as well as the rest of our operations across the company.”

Wynne’s buffets also remain open and the staff is routinely cleaning all hard surfaces and have placed hand sanitizing stations at the entrance, according to the company.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is also keeping its buffets open and released this in a statement: “We are actively monitoring the situation while following guidance and recommendations from the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…We will continue to assess and make adjustments as needed.”

MGM’s decision didn’t exactly go down too well with Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman.

“This is Vegas,” Goodman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “This where when you were panicked somewhere else in the world with some problem, it was: ‘You know – I’m going to take that money, and I’m going to Las Vegas and forget my woes.’

“Good comes from everything that’s bad, but I just think that’s totally wrong. Put bigger glass out there. For MGM to buy in and have the fear – that’s not the right direction.”

She did add that she respected MGM Resorts’ efforts to keep the public safe from coronavirus.