Hollywood Casino in Dauphin County reopened on June 19. It was the fourth PA casino to reopen its doors since mandated coronavirus closures in mid-May.
On Hollywood Casino’s Facebook page, General Manager Dan Ihm regularly provided videos with updates and answers to FAQs. On Friday morning, he posted a group “We missed you!” from the team on the gaming floor at Hollywood Casino. Five hundred employees returned to work after more than three months away.
What to expect if you head to Hollywood Casino
The casino amped up cleaning and sanitation measures, and guests will notice more hand sanitizer stations and wipes. Hollywood Casino will be closed from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. for deep cleaning.
Per PGCB guidelines, it will operate at 50% capacity, guests and employees must wear masks and there will be no poker at first.
Hollywood Casino — Know before you go:
- There are two entrances open, the main entrance/valet and one on the second floor of the parking garage.
- No temperature checks are required.
- Most table games will be open. Seating is limited at each to three players (six players at a craps table and four players at roulette). The process of some of these games may be altered to limit contact with chips, cards and cash.
- At slot machines, every other chair has been removed (about 1,200 slot machines remain). Popular slot games have plexiglass barriers between the seats.
- Live horse racing at Hollywood Casino will begin on Friday, June 19. Spectators will not be permitted on the apron. Simulcast wagering and viewing are available on the third floor of the casino.
- Additional details about gaming, dining and more are available on Hollywood’s website.
The Penn National Race Course also opened today for simulcast betting and live racing without spectators. The return to racing features a nine-race card including two turf sprints, with the first post at 6 p.m.
Mohegan Sun Pocono and Mount Airy Casino Ready for Reopening
A new day is dawning for Mohegan Sun Pocono, which has been dark for over three months. Mohegan Sun Pocono will reopen at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 22.
Pennsylvania’s first AAA Four-Diamond casino property will have an extra shine to it. Mount Airy Casino Resort reopens on Monday, June 22, at noon with enhanced safety and sanitization protocols. The casino has been closed to help slow the spread of coronavirus for 97 days.
Glenn Cademartori, vice president of marketing at Mount Airy Casino Resort, said:
“We have made a commitment to providing our guests with the highest standards of cleanliness and safety. The safety and well-being of our team members and guests are our top priority, and we are confident that the measures in place will ensure a safe, clean and enjoyable experience for all. In working with the PGCB and regional health care professionals, we have implemented a multitude of new policies and procedures that will keep everyone safe but still allow them to experience the many things they love about our resort.”
Mount Airy also said that the sportsbook will be temporarily closed. However, betting kiosks will be available for wagering.
What to expect at the reopened Mount Airy Casino
Per PGCB safety guidelines, employees and guests will be required to wear masks, the casino will operate at 50% capacity and the poker room will be closed.
Additional hand sanitizing stations have been installed throughout the floor. To continue to maintain high standards of workplace cleanliness and safety, key team members have attended cleanliness, sanitation and safety training classes conducted by Ecolab.
On its website, Mount Airy Casino listed additional safety protocols such as:
- Temperature checks: At the discretion of Mount Airy Casino Resort staff, the security team may conduct noninvasive temperature checks on any guests displaying COVID-19 symptoms. Guests displaying a temperature of 100.4 degrees or above will receive a second temperature screening. Guests twice confirmed to have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or above or refusing an initial or secondary reading will not be allowed entry to the property and will be directed toward appropriate medical care.
- Slot operations: Eight hundred fifty of the 1,700 slots will be operating. Every other slot chair will be removed to allow for social distancing. Popular banks will have acrylic shields installed between each game (the remaining 150 games).
- Table game operations: Table games may have every other chair at a table open, with three spots available on a blackjack/carnival game, four spots on a roulette/midi-baccarat game and six spots — three on each side — on a dice game. There will be approximately 12 table games with shields.
Additional information about the casino and resort’s guidelines can be found on Mount Airy Casino Resort’s website.
Bringing up the rear: Remaining six PA casinos get green light
On June 19, Governor Tom Wolf announced that 12 more counties would move to the green phase on Friday, June 26. Among those 12 are the counties for the remaining six Pennsylvania casinos without announced reopening plans.
The following casinos will be cleared to reopen June 26, though some may opt for later reopening dates.
- Presque Isle Downs (Erie)
- Harrah’s Philadelphia (Delaware)
- Valley Forge Casino (Montgomery)
- Parx (Bucks)
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia (Philadelphia)
- Wind Creek Casino (Northampton)
These casinos are in areas that were hit the hardest by the virus. Expect extra safety precautions and possibly some delayed reopenings among them.
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