Nevada's regulator greenlights Resorts World Las Vegas to open June 24

Resorts World Las Vegas has received regulatory approval to open June 24 on the Las Vegas Strip. Nevada Gaming Commission granted licenses to Genting Group and its publicly traded subsidiary, Genting Malaysia Berhad, the Malaysia-based owner of the $4.3 billion development.

Commission Chairman John Moran Jr. stated after the unanimous vote: “We look forward to seeing it open and running,” the Associated Press reports.

Scott Sibella, president of Resorts World Las Vegas, commented: "We want to be the most sophisticated, state-of-art casino in the world,” Sibella declared as he spoke about technological advances built into what will be the first new resort to open in more than a decade on the Strip. It will incorporate natural outdoor light in many restaurant and convention areas and a ventilation system Sibella said was designed to produce “the best air quality money can buy."

Genting Chairman Kok Thay Lim, by videoconference, traced the company history to his father opening a first Resorts World-branded resort, in Pahang, Malaysia. The company now has properties in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, the Philippines, and United Kingdom.

“We are on the cusp of opening our latest Resorts World property with 3,500 hotel rooms,” Lim said.

The opening comes as Las Vegas sheds more than a year of person-to-person distancing and mask-wearing rules.

On Tuesday, local lawmakers approved fully reopening stores, shows, and restaurants beginning June 1. That will meet Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s goal of allowing 100% capacity at businesses that have reopened in increments after being ordered shut down in March 2020, according to abc News.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has already approved full occupancy for almost all properties in Las Vegas.

Infection rates have fallen in the Las Vegas area. State health officials report that more than one-third of eligible area residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and nearly 46% have received at least one shot.

Sibella said more than 4,000 people will be hired over the next three weeks to fill the resort's workforce of 5,500. Most already have offers, he said, and most are vaccinated against COVID-19 and won't have to wear masks.

The new red-colored, curved 59-story Resorts World will have three Hilton-branded hotels, including 236 upper-floor suites in its exclusive Crockfords gambling and hotel area. It has a casino, gambling salons, and poker rooms. It will open dozens of retail shops and stores, more than 40 restaurants and lounges including a “street eat” area, multiple spas, and swimming pools, and 300,000 square feet (27,871 square meters) of second-floor meeting and banquet space.

Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan have been announced as headliners beginning in November at the property’s 5,000-seat theater, managed by AEG Presents.

Singapore-based Zouk Group will feature DJs including Zedd and Tiësto at the 2,000-capacity Zouk Nightclub and the outdoor AYU Dayclub.