Casinos In Pa Closed
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board released a 10-page document detailing its requirements for casinos to reopen once they are given permission by the state.
Casinos in Pennsylvania are once again closing due to the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases. All PA casinos will be closed from Dec. 4, and possibly longer. PlayPennsylvania will continue to provide updates on Pennsylvania casino closures and eventual reopenings as information becomes available. Harrah’s Philadelphia: 777 Harrah’s Blvd, Chester, PA 19013 (484) 490-1800. Hollywood Casino at Penn National: 777 Hollywood Blvd, Grantville, PA 17028 (717) 469-2211. Dec 10, 2020 Casino Pittsburgh, the first satellite casino in Pennsylvania, only opened its doors on November 24. Pennsylvania is the nation’s third-largest gaming market behind Nevada and New Jersey.
The document outlines protocols for guests and employees, which includes wearing masks inside casinos and following occupancy limits.
READ: Find The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Document
PENNSYLVANIA GAMING CONTROL BOARD COVID-19 CASINO REOPENING PROTOCOLS
Casinos remain closed in the yellow phase of Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening plan.
“There’s going to be some restrictions on how many people would be in the casino at one time so they can keep social distancing,” said Doug Harbach, director of communications for the state Gaming Control Board.
He says frequently touched areas like slot machines and counters will be cleaned often.
To maintain social distancing, the Gaming Control Board is requiring casinos to put markings on the floor to keep people apart in lines, disable certain slot machines, close poker rooms and install plastic dividers.
“Putting up those types of barriers at the table games,” said Harbach. “Some of the casinos may choose to do that at slot machines.”
Casinos in certain states have slowly started reopening, allowing officials in Pennsylvania to learn what to do and not to do to keep casino guests and employees safe.
“We’ve seen a lot of people lined up to get in there, probably not practicing the best social distancing,” said Harbach. “So that’s something I’m sure the casinos in Pennsylvania are watching too.”
The requirements in the Gaming Control Board’s document are only the required minimum for casinos to reopen when the time comes.
Casinos are encouraged to put additional customized procedures in place, based on their layouts.
In a statement to KDKA, Rivers Casino said:
“Rivers Casino Pittsburgh has already been working on making the changes announced by the PGCB today. We intend to meet or exceed all requirements to provide a healthy environment. The safety and well-being of our team members, guests and the community is our top priority. We will reopen when the state determines that it’s safe to do so.”
Published December 19, 2020 by Sol FH Pennsylvania Casino Closures
All of the states brick and mortar casinos have been forced to close until at least January 4th.
There are 12 licensed, land-based casinos in the state of Pennsylvania and they have all been forced to close until at least January 4th. With a surge in the number of COVID cases in the state including Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D), the second-term governor immediately announced sweeping coronavirus limitations on a number of businesses across Pennsylvania.
“With these measures in place, we hope to accomplish three goals. First, stop the devastating spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth,” Wolf commented. “Second, keep our hospitals and healthcare workers from becoming overwhelmed. And third, help Pennsylvanians get through the holiday season — and closer to a widely available vaccine — as safely as possible.'
Rivers Casino in Philadelphia was the first to close and was enforced on November 20 by the municipality. Now, the remaining casinos in the state must follow suit. It was especially tough news for Live! Casino Pittsburgh, which opened its doors on the 24 of November.
Land-based gambling is big business in Pennsylvania and it is the third-largest gaming market in the US. Pennsylvania is only behind Nevada and New Jersey in size. During the closure, the state's online casino and sportsbetting will continue on desktop and mobile.
Governor Wolf stated that the earliest date on which the casinos will be allowed to reopen is on January 4. There will be a lot of money in lost tax revenue for the state and revenue for the operators and their investors but this is a massive attempt to shudder the COVID cases that are ravaging the US.