Caesars Casino Atlantic City Reopening Date
Atlantic City Casinos Reopen in a Changed Coronavirus Pandemic World. The Borgata has not set a reopening date. New Jersey Jun 30 No Smoking, Drinking, Eating as Atlantic City Casinos Reopen.
- ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., June 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - In anticipation of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's order authorizing the reopening of Atlantic City casinos, Bally's, Caesars, and Harrah's Resort will re-open on Friday, July 3 rd, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday.
- Caesars Atlantic City Casino: Address, Phone Number, Caesars Atlantic City Casino Reviews: 4/5.
- ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Eager to hit the slot machines and table games after a 108-day absence, gamblers wore face masks and did without smoking and drinking Thursday as Atlantic City’s casinos.
Caesars Atlantic City is looking forward to welcoming back its guests soon.
However, the exact date remains up in the air.
Once New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy eases up social distancing guidelines, Caesars’ plan can move forward.
Caesars Entertainment, the parent company of three Atlantic City properties, will be implementing new health and safety standards.
The details were announced Monday via a press release.
Tony Rodio, the CEO of Caesars Entertainment, said the company is looking forward to welcoming guests and team members back.
That is “as soon as it is appropriate to do so.”
“We are implementing new protocols focused on the well-being of our team members, guests and communities to create environments with high standards of sanitization and physical distancing practices.
“We are working closely with public health authorities, gaming regulators and infectious disease specialists to design our plan,” said Rodio.
Caesars’ health and safety standards
Caesars currently operates three AC casinos; Harrah’s Resort is one.
Bally’s Atlantic Cityis the other, and Twin River Holdings has an agreement to purchase the property.
The company game plan is to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Here is a look at what employees and customers can expect:
- Enhanced cleaning and sanitization of public spaces and guest rooms. This will include using CDC-recommended disinfectants and guidelines to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
- Training all employees on new procedures and policies.
- Instructing all team members to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds and more frequently throughout their shift.
- Signage throughout the properties will strongly encourage guests to wash their hands.
- Hand sanitizer will be available throughout Caesars’ properties.
Expect safety measures to include limiting table games and slot machines. Specifics have yet to be announced.
Non-gaming offerings, such as entertainment, restaurants and bars, are likely to reopen on a phased basis with limited capacity.
Check-in areas, elevator lobbies, employee break rooms and cafeterias will be clearly marked for appropriate social distancing.
Employee and guests will wear masks
When visiting a supermarket or restaurant these days, patrons and employees are required to wear masks. Expect the same when Caesars’ properties welcome back Atlantic City guests.
At this point, it remains highly unlikely that casinos will welcome guests by Memorial Day weekend.
According to the release, all team members will receive a mask that they must wear while at work.
Some team members, such as those working in housekeeping and security, will receive additional personal protection equipment (PPE).
Gloves are also one of the items.
The company will also strongly encourage customers to wear masks. Caesars will provide them if needed.
As part of the reopening process, the company plans on implementing a health screening program.
Caesars phased reopening of its AC casinos
The Caesars’ owned Atlantic City properties are keeping customers up to date via websites and social media.
Casinos in Las Vegas, Council Bluffs and Lake Tahoe are expected to follow a similar reopening plan.
This includes increasing staff capacity as well as amenities, such as restaurants and live entertainment, “in line with consumer demand and guidance from public health authorities.”
As far as the status of hotel bookings, reservation dates vary by property.
And besides restarting operations, there is that minor detail of the pending Caesars-Eldorado merger.
So now, with preliminary plans in place, it comes down to waiting for that big announcement.
The one that starts with the words “Caesars Atlantic City will reopen.”
For Atlantic City casinos, forced to close March 16 until further notice due to the coronavirus, further notice has come.
On Monday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced that Atlantic City’s nine casinos can reopen to gamblers on July 2 with 25% capacity limits.
On the same day, spectators can place live wagers at horse-racing facilities. This comes just in time for Monmouth Park’s July 3 delayed live-meet opening.
Atlantic City casinos prep for reopening
The ability to open before the holiday weekend and take live bets has been considered crucial for the track’s ability to survive.
Casinos, meanwhile, are planning their re-emergence from a 107-day COVID-19 shutdown, which crippled second-quarter financial results.
Thousands of layoffs and millions of dollars in lost revenue have occurred during this period, although NJ online gaming revenues have increased.
The state has lost close to $20 million in direct tax revenue, according to industry estimates. Thankfully, that’s about to change.
“Thousands of New Jerseyans can now get back to work,” Murphy said on Monday. He added that the casino industry’s offer to partner with the state to assist with contact-tracing data impacted the decision to reopen.
Some casinos may only open for “friends, family and loyal customers” on July 2 to test the new protocols, Murphy said.
Borgata Atlantic City confirmed via a press release on Tuesday that it would not open to the public until July 6.
Indoor dining limits at statewide restaurants will also be 25% capacity, Murphy indicated, but he was optimistic that those percentages would increase before long. The percentage extends to casino restaurants.
Caesars Casino Atlantic City Reopening Dates
Health guidelines at AC casinos will be strictly enforced
Although health-related protocols are not finalized, Murphy told casino visitors to expect mandatory health screening, mask wearing and density limits inside.
He said the measures will be strictly enforced.
“I hate to even say this, but if any visitor refuses to comply with these simple safeguards, the person will be escorted out of the casino. We are not going to tolerate any knuckleheads for the people who are enjoying themselves responsibly and for the people who need to get back to work.”
Atlantic City casino executives and some area mayors have spoken regularly with Murphy over the last couple of months. They have offered safety measures designed to help restart business and gaming operations.
Regarding contact tracing, for example, casino players are rated. Properties have databases that can provide information on a majority of their players to state officials.
Based on the pace of announcements, the casino industry appears to be leading the enhanced health effort rather than reacting to regulations.
Murphy cited the partnership between gaming and state officials Monday, saying that “the conversations with our friends in the casino industry will continue.”
Hard Rock AC, other casinos release safety plans early
Casinos in Atlantic City have been slowly releasing safety procedures since May.
Borgata and its parent company MGM announced a seven-point safety plan, and Resorts is installing air purifiers throughout its property.
Hard Rock Atlantic City released some of its mandatory policies ahead of Monday’s announcement. They include:
- Mandated masks (guests and team members)
- Temperature checks (guests and team members)
- A new Safe + Sound Clean Team
- Increased quality of air circulation
- AtlantiCare partnership focused on contact tracing, training, telehealth and more
“We’re delighted to get the reopening date,” said Joe Lupo, president of the Hard Rock casino.
“We thank the governor that we’ll be able to be open for the July Fourth weekend to meet the demand on the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk.”
Late Monday afternoon, Ocean Casino Resort sent a media advisory regarding its iconic rooftop ball. It will be utilized as a countdown starting Monday at dusk and running through July 1.
This means July 2 is New Year’s Day number 2 in 2020.
Counting down the days on our beacon of light! How excited are you for our reopening on July 2nd?⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6csvzWWX0L
— Ocean Casino Resort (@TheOceanAC) June 23, 2020
Up and down the Boardwalk, casino receptionists enthusiastically greeted callers, providing more general information than normal in response to inquiries.
There is a sense of rebirth similar to the opening of a casino property.
Reading between the lines
Given Murphy’s hope for dining capacity to increase and the conversations casino officials have had with him, it’s reasonable to believe the operational capacity will expand sooner rather than later.
But Murphy maintained a cautious approach Monday, reminding people “to use common sense for the common good.”
He noted that New Jersey’s social distancing measures, forcing the shutdown of the industry and Garden State businesses, had been worthwhile.
“We had the pain of discipline, not the pain of regret,” Murphy said.
Two significant pieces of data drove the reopening announcement, Murphy said.
New Jersey’s positive test rate for COVID-19 was 2.42%, a number that had been “at least five or six times higher” in recent months.
The new spread rate is 0.76%, he said. That means for every positive test, there is fewer than one new case.
But Murphy also said people may be letting their guard down too much and should maintain social distancing protocols.
Caesars Casino Atlantic City Reopening Date 2017
‘The middle part of the second phase’
Caesars Casino Atlantic City Reopening Date Today
On Monday, New Jersey pools, barbershops, salons and tattoo parlors reopened with COVID-19 restrictions. Murphy called Monday the middle part of the second phase of reopening from coronavirus closures.
As expected on Monday, the restriction on outdoor gatherings increased to 250 people, and indoor gatherings are now capped at 100 or 25% capacity.
It’s uncertain how casinos will vary their use of 25%. Rooms, for example, are not likely going to be 100% available for reservations.
Caesars Casino Atlantic City Reopening Date 2020
It’s also not known how restaurants on casino grounds that are not owned by the casino count toward its percentage of space.
Gaming officials hope that won’t be a consideration for too long and that the next “further notice” will signal expanded operations.