Pa Casino Closed
Jan 24, 2021 The casino was fourth among all Pennsylvania casinos in total revenue. Rivers Casino Philadelphia, which was closed for 165 days in 2019 saw the largest decrease in revenue last year at -55.05%. Casino Pittsburgh, Mohegan Sun Pocono, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Lady Luck Nemacolin, Rivers Pittsburgh, and others. Some Casinos Had Already Closed. In fact, the new regulation had no impact on at least one casino in Pennsylvania: namely, Rivers Casino Philadelphia, which was forced to close its doors on November 20, 2020, following orders from.
Casinos closed into 2021
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has signed an official Order to close the state’s casinos for three weeks, from 12:01am on December 12 to 8:00am on January 4, 2021. The Order applies to all indoor entertainment, as well as indoor dining, indoor gyms and fitness centers, in-person school extracurricular activities, and youth sports.
In his announcement Thursday afternoon, Governor Wolf laid out three goals for the strict mitigation measures. The first and most obvious is to stop the spread of COVID-19. The second is to ease the burden on Pennsylvania’s hospitals and health care workers. The third goal is related to the first: to get people through the holiday season safely and closer to the vaccine rollout.
It will help all of us get back to normal, and back to all of the things we’ve missed, faster.”
“It will help all of us get back to normal, and back to all of the things we’ve missed, faster,” said Wolf, who himself was just diagnosed with COVID-19. “And it means more Pennsylvanians will be alive to celebrate that brighter future.”
Situation is worse than in March
The first round of mandatory Pennsylvania casino closures lasted three and a half months, from March 16 to July 2. The Meadows Racetrack and Casino and Rivers Casino Pittsburgh were the first to reopen on June 9.
On November 20, Governor Wolf said that there was no evidence of any outbreaks stemming from the state’s casinos. Nevertheless, things have gotten so bad in Pennsylvania that he and health officials felt that a strict, blanket shutdown was needed.
the virus continues to strain our health care systems”
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said on Thursday that each of the last two days have seen more deaths than any day since the very beginning of the pandemic. She warned: “The virus continues to strain our health care systems and the dramatic rise in cases among all age groups, including among school-age children, is alarming.”
Internet gaming choices abound
Fortunately for gamblers in the Keystone State, there are plenty of online options for people to have fun with from the safety of home. Most of Pennsylvania’s 13 casinos have internet versions that offer games like blackjack, slots, and roulette. BetMGM became the most reason operator to launch an online casino, doing so last week.
There are also ten sportsbook apps in the state and one online poker room, PokerStars. On December 27, PokerStars will host the $200 buy-in “Pennsyl-MANIA” tournament, guaranteeing a prize pool of at least $500,000, the largest ever in the state.
Pennsylvania also recently became the second state with live dealer online games when Evolution opened its studio in late October. Evolution is supplying its games to Rush Street Interactive’s PlaySugarHouse and BetRivers online casinos and DraftKings. It later launched with Caesars in November.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued an order late Thursday ordering all casinos closed once again until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.
The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
Also ordered shut were all 40 truck stop video gaming terminallocations. They are shuttered on the same schedule as casinos.
Are All Pa Casinos Closed
For now, there does not appear to be a plan to shut down horse racing.
Rivers already closed due to orders from Philly Health Department
Rivers Casino Philadelphia already closed on Nov. 20 on orders from the City of Philadelphia.
All casinos were initially ordered closed in March due to the virus. They had a phased reopening after being closed for months.
Casinos newly reordered to close
The newly affected properties are:
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
- Lady Luck Nemacolin
- Live! Casino Pittsburgh
- Meadows Casino and Racetrack
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Mount Airy Casino Resort
- Parx Casino
- Presque Isle Racetrack and Casino
- Rivers Pittsburgh
- Valley Forge Casino and Resort
- Wind Creek Bethlehem
Pa Casinos Closing Again
Live! near Pittsburgh had just debuted, ordered closed
The new Live! Pittsburgh had just opened its doors on Nov. 24. A sister facility, Live! Casino Philadelphia, is under construction with no announced opening date beyond “no later than the end of the first quarter of 2021.”
Gaming officials aiding closure planning
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced Thursday that it is assisting in the shutdown procedures.
Executive Director Kevin O’Toole said public health and the safety of patrons, casino employees and others are of paramount importance. O’Toole said:
“The board is continuously monitoring developments and will update licensees and the public as frequently as possible with any new developments.”
The closures do not affect other forms of gaming regulated by the Gaming Control Board offered via the internet, including online casino games, sports betting and daily fantasy contests.
PA Casino response, messages to employees and patrons
Harrah’s Philadelphia put out a memo to team members on Thursday assuring them that they all will continue to earn pay and benefits through the closure period. Pay during the period is based on average wages over the previous eight weeks.
Frank Leone, COO and general manager of Mount Airy Casino Resort, said in a presser that reservations through Jan. 3 can be cancelled without penalty. Patrons can call (877) 682-4791 for additional information. He also said:
“Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by this pandemic. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the property on January 4.”
PA horse tracks still running for now
According to the PA Department of Agriculture press secretary, Shannon Powers, tracks are currently not affected by the closure of casinos.
“Tracks open at this time of year are Parx, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Meadows and Penn National. The Mohegan Sun at Pocono and Presque Isle Downs are normally closed this time of year.”
Other activities ordered stopped or limited
Also, indoor dining will again be prohibited. Outdoor dining, takeout food service and takeout alcohol sales may continue.
Wolf ordered outdoor gatherings and events of more than 50 people to cease.
In-person businesses that serve the public may operate at 50% of maximum capacity — except if limited to a smaller capacity by existing orders.
Wolf, who himself tested positive for the virus but is asymptomatic, also ordered the closure of indoor operations at gyms and fitness facilities and in-person indoor businesses in the entertainment industry. That includes movie theaters, museums, bowling alleys and others.
Sports for K-12 students and in-person extracurricular school activities must cease, but extracurricular activities may continue virtually.
Spectators cannot attend college sports events. Wolf said the continuation of college sports might continue per federal and state health directives.
The new restrictions were announced the same day a vaccine was approved to immunize people against the virus, though the rollout is still to come.
Previous reopening procedures
COVID-19 Casino Reopening Protocols were part of the previous reopenings. They detailed minimum safety and health-related requirements that are mandatory before reopening.
The key points then were:
- Casinos can reopen at 50% capacity.
- Employees and guests must wear masks.
- There are markings on the floor to promote social distancing.
- Mandatory enhanced cleaning is required throughout the facility.
At first, poker rooms were not authorized to operate following the first shutdown due to players’ handling of cards and chips.
Pa Casino Closed Today
But by mid-November, five of the nine live poker rooms in PA had reopened.