“So if there’s any substance to the fact that sun kills the virus, we’ll have a hell of a lot of sun.” “In July, the weather will be 115 degrees,” Ruffin says of Las Vegas. Ruffin, whose Casino Miami in Florida is also shuttered, claims he’s only losing about $6 million to $8 million a month on each property. According to a report written by Macquarie Insights, MGM, the biggest Las Vegas operator with 80,000 employees around the globe-whose properties include the Bellagio and New York, New York-is losing a staggering $14.4 million per day, while smaller operator Red Rock Resorts is losing $1.7 million a day. “Do you understand that? We were mandated-we didn’t have any choice.

“We were mandated to close,” Ruffin says sternly. Now the number of people filing for unemployment across the state is a record high of 17% while the total unemployment rate might be as high as 25% in Las Vegas. The local economy-one third of which is tied to tourism and the hospitality industry-was strong before the shutdown. He is also quick to add that Governor Sisolak is to blame for Las Vegas’ misfortune-not casino owners. He also offered that if any employee were to ask for money he would give them a loan at 3% interest. His companies have an estimated war chest of $500 million in cash. Ruffin certainly has the money to cover employee salaries during the lockdown- Forbes estimates that his net worth is $3.2 billion.

The government shut us down and our people understand that.” “Our losses are and that’s okay, that’s part of the deal. No one is hurting worse than we are,” he says with a quick laugh. Caesars also is allowing employees to use accumulated paid time off.) “We’re trying to get open as fast as we can. (Both companies gave employees an extra two weeks’ pay during furlough, while Ruffin did not. When asked why he decided not to pay his employees while on furlough-which other billionaire-owned casino companies, including Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands and Red Rock Resorts all pledged-Ruffin says he’s following what the Strip’s largest operators, MGM and Caesars, did.

“Hopefully they get a $1,200 check soon,” says Ruffin, referring to the first stimulus check the federal government sent to Americans. A CUT ABOVE: Donald Trump and Phil Ruffin in 2005 at the groundbreaking ceremony for Trump International Hotel and Tower in Las Vegas.

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