Las Vegas casinos, gamblers battle record temperatures

Las Vegas has always been known for its dry, oppressive heat, especially during the summer. But new all-time high temperatures have been set over the last week, presenting challenges and opportunities for casinos.

It’s so hot, that in one viral post, a box of crayons melted into a rainbow puddle. And the Bruce Solutions Center, which offers community resources, this week is giving away free water.

On the challenge side for Las Vegas’ biggest attractions, at least one resort had no air conditioning for much of the week. The off-Strip OYO Hotel & Casino tried to manage the heat with huge fans in the lobby. But patron reviews across the internet said that didn’t work and some rooms had temperatures in the 80s.

On the opportunities side, a downtown hotel is leveraging its pool area to beat the heat. For $400, Sunday-Wednesday, Circa guests get two nights, $100 in food and $100 in beverage credits, and a daybed at Stadium Swim. That daybed is steps away from one of the biggest pools in the city.

It’s hot out there!

On Sunday (7 July) , the National Weather Service (NWS) in Las Vegas announced that the heat had reached 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48.3 degrees Celsius) at about 3:15 p.m. By 3:38, it had reached 120 degrees, an all-time record. The official measurement is taken at the NWS station at Harry Reid International Airport.

This was part of a streak of six days with temperatures of least 115 degrees, another record. The NWS said the previous record streak was four days, from 16-19 July 2005. An excessive heat warning remains in place through Friday (12 July).

Prior to Sunday, the previous record temperature was 117 degrees, recorded on 20 June 2017. Historically, July has the highest average daily maximum of any month, at 104 degrees.

The airport is where the official temperature is recorded, but there are other anecdotal references to numbers above 120 degrees. Mark Hall-Patton, a historian and former coordinator of the Clark County museum, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that mercury thermometers reportedly read 131 degrees one day in the 1930s when the Hoover Dam was under construction.

Between 1995 and 2020, the museum’s gauge also showed heat of 125 degrees on two occasions, Hall-Patton said.

Two most important letters: AC

Casino gambling was legalised in Nevada in 1931 and official heat records started in 1937. This means that this July has technically been the hottest month on record for Las Vegas casino operators. This may help keep players on-site, but it also presents challenges.

According to FOX5 Vegas, the air conditioning system issues at OYO caused some employees to file complaints with the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) office.

No formal investigation has yet been launched. But that could happen if OYO does not provide OSHA with an adequate response to the claims.

OSHA data shows that in June, there were 108 heat-related complaints in southern Nevada workplaces. The most complaints (37%) came from the “accommodation and food services” industries, the administration said. For reference, only 26 claims were filed in June 2023.

Surprisingly, the number of Workers’ Compensation heat illness claims this year is lower than ever. So far in 2024, 14 have been filed statewide, with seven accepted. There have been at least 40 accepted claims every year since 2017, the first year data became available.

Business as usual

OYO aside, the recent temperatures may be notable, but most properties are well-accustomed to the throes of Las Vegas summers.

“A record is a record, but visitation has always been strong in the summer,” Las Vegas-based consultant Brendan Bussmann told iGB.

June data is not yet available, but the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported visitor volume of 3.65 million in May, a 5% year-over-year increase. Last summer, visitation totals for June, July and August were all increases of at least 1% over 2022.

Bussmann noted that operationally, the heat doesn’t change much other than the fact that extra attention is paid to staff who work outside. This includes security guards, pool personnel, and valets. Properties on the Strip and elsewhere, he said, “do a fabulous job” managing the summer months.

Decades in the desert have also tremendously improved power and water systems. Solar technology and water recycling help the city’s mega-resorts keep churning day and night, Bussmann said.

“All these properties look into conservation,” he said. “Whether that be encapsulating solar and what they put on the tops of their buildings, to how they can continually conserve and reuse water accordingly.”

With that in mind, gamblers still have to make the decision of whether to venture out, and the record highs could dissuade even the most loyal patrons.

Swimming pool, anyone?

Circa’s Stadium Swim has become popular among sports bettors since its October 2020 opening, but the recent temperatures have still affected occupancy.

“With the heat, people have been more inclined to stick at home and be in the AC than come out and wander Fremont Street, be in the casinos or stop at Stadium Swim,” said Jeff Benson, the sportsbook operations manager for Circa.

Before July hit, Benson noted that crowds had been strong thanks to NBA and NHL playoffs. Recently, though, there’s been “a little less traffic” due to the heat. But Benson did note that the aforementioned promotional activity has “done really, really well this summer, so that’s something we’re definitely pushing.”

Additionally, the finals of the UEFA European Championships and the CONMEBOL Copa America this weekend and the upcoming Summer Olympic Games 29 July-11 August are expected to draw bigger crowds, even if the heat persists.