A giant new Las Vegas casino opening Thursday is betting that receding fears of Covid-19 will bring a strong recovery in the international gambling hub.

The venue, Resorts World Las Vegas, will have 3,500 hotel rooms and house a 5,000-seat theater where stars like Celine Dion and Katy Perry are scheduled to perform in the coming months. There will also be 1,400 slot machines.

Developed by the Genting Group of Malaysia, the $4.3 billion project will be one of the biggest resorts ever on the Las Vegas Strip, which is home to the Bellagio, Caesars Palace and other famed casinos.

After shutting down during the most severe stretch of the pandemic, Las Vegas casinos reopened in June 2020 with face-mask requirements and other strict protocols.

Resorts World Las Vegas
Resorts World Las Vegas, will have 3,500 hotel rooms and house a 5,000-seat theater where stars like Celine Dion and Katy Perry have booked shows Photo: GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Ethan Miller

Tourism has been picking up gradually, but the recovery is still a work in progress, and conventions, a key business source, have yet to fully resume.

Unemployment in Las Vegas stood at nine percent in April, compared with the national level of 5.7 percent. The city's unemployment rate in April 2020 was 31.7 percent, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The city's casinos were cleared in May to remove mask mandates for vaccinated visitors. Local officials on June 1 lifted other restrictions, including on large gatherings.

Founded in 1965, Genting manages casinos in Malaysia, Britain and in New York. The group also has investments in palm oil plantations, power generation and life sciences and biotechnology.

The company bought the Las Vegas property in 2013.

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