Casinos In Pa Closed
Posted : admin On 3/31/2022The 12 casinos in Pennsylvania that are operating today will be forced to close this Saturday, December 12, at 12:01 am ET.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Today, the second-term governor announced sweeping coronavirus restrictions on various businesses across the Commonwealth — and the mitigation efforts include a ban of commercial gambling.
List of casinos in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania; Casino Online Casino City County District Type Comments Harrah's Philadelphia: Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem (now Wind Creek Bethlehem). HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) – Following Governor Tom Wolf’s order on Monday afternoon, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced the closure of casinos across Pennsylvania. 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 explained. “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.
This is a bridge to a better future in Pennsylvania,” the governor declared.
Rivers Casino in Philadelphia was forced to close November 20 on city orders. Now, the other 12 gaming venues in the Keystone State will shut down, too. Live! 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. Online gaming and mobile sports betting will continue during the land-based casino closures. The earliest they will be allowed to reopen, Wolf says, is January 4 at 8 am ET.
COVID-19 Spread
As is the case in so many other states, Pennsylvania is experiencing a significant spike in new positive COVID-19 results. There has also been an increase in deaths.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Heath Dr. Rachel Levine said that in each of the last two days, the state has reported its highest number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
“The virus continues to strain our healthcare systems and the dramatic rise in cases among all age groups, including among school-age children, is alarming,” Levine said.
Wolf cited the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) saying entertainment gatherings indoors are “higher-risk activities.” Casinos are grouped with the mandatory closures of theaters, concert venues, museums, arcades, bowling alleys, recreation centers, and private clubs.
Casinos Were Managing
Pennsylvania Casinos Locations
Despite ongoing restrictions, including operating at reduced capacities, Pennsylvania’s gaming industry has performed well since being permitted to reopen in June.
In the third quarter of 2020, gross gaming revenue (GGR) from land-based operations, online casinos, and brick-and-mortar and mobile sports betting totaled $891.3 million. That’s a 3.8 percent premium on July, August, and September 2019.
Requiring the gaming venues to again shutter will almost certainly return their year-over-year GGR results for the fourth quarter into the red.
While the CDC says indoor entertainment is risky, casinos are equipped with highly complex ventilation systems that routinely bring in new air. For instance, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh says its air system “is proven to be over 99.9 percent effective in neutralizing coronavirus on surfaces.”
Last month, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported that less than one percent of workers employed inside the physical casinos in the state have tested COVID-19 positive. A total of 108 casino workers became infected with the coronavirus.
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COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania are at record highs. On Nov. 13, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that there were 5,531 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 254,387. It is the fourth consecutive day that the state has reported a record number of cases.
Play Pennsylvania asked the PA Department of Health if the rising numbers meant a return to the color-coded phases and possible temporary closures for casinos in Pennsylvania.
A representative responded:
“There is no plan at this time to return to the red, yellow, green mitigation steps and stay-at-home order that occurred in the spring.”
Some tips to slow the spread
The PA Department of Health reiterated that it was very concerned about the increase in cases. The representative said:
“We currently have protections in place, like wearing a mask and limits on large gatherings. Pennsylvanians can stop the spread. It is all of our responsibility to do the right thing. These are things that we can continue to do to stop the spread of COVID-19:
- Teleworking.
- Isolating or quarantining if you test positive or have exposure to someone who has.
- Businesses limiting capacity to 50%.”
More restrictions for Philadelphia?
Of the record number of cases reported on Friday, 1,158 were from Philadelphia. Mayor Jim Kenney’s office did not provide any indication of what its “changes in restrictions” might be and said they are still being finalized. Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley earlier this week said all restrictions are being considered, even a complete lockdown, according to Yahoo! News.
Rivers Casino Philadelphia is currently the only casino within the city limits. Live! Casino Philadelphia is expected to open in early 2021.
Rivers Philadelphia closed in mid-March and reopened on July 17. It experienced the longest closure of all 12 casinos in the commonwealth.
We must do everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Philadelphia. Specific details are still being finalized, but we plan to announce changes to restrictions on Monday, November 16. https://t.co/fgAPsfbU3P
— Jim #MaskUpPHL Kenney (@PhillyMayor) November 13, 2020
Health and safety protocols at PA casinos
Before you visit a casino in Pennsylvania, there are few things you should know. Your next visit will look different than your previous pre-coronavirus-closure casino excursion. Per the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), all casinos in the state must follow COVID-19 Casino Reopening Protocols, which detail the minimum safety and health-related requirements that are mandatory before reopening.
Are The Casinos In Pa Closed
Key points to remember are:
- Casinos can reopen at 50% capacity.
- Employees and guests must wear masks.
- There are markings on the floor to promote social distancing.
- Enhanced cleaning is required throughout the facility.
Eating, drinking and smoking at PA casinos
In addition to the increased health and safety measures, some staples of casino visits have been put on a temporary pause.
Alcohol can only be served when food is purchased. Drink service on the casino floor is prohibited.
These new rules went into effect well before the November record-breaking numbers.
Under the guidance of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the PGCB, there is currently no smoking in Pennsylvania casinos either (effective July 3).
Gov. Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine signed orders that mandated restaurants can’t serve alcohol for on-site consumption past 11 p.m. (effective Sept 21).
Hours of PA casinos
Casinos in Pennsylvania started to close in mid-March to slow the spread of coronavirus. They were closed for over 100 days before the first few started welcoming back guests in June. However, not all returned to around-the-clock operations.
Casinos in PA open 24 hours:
- Parx
- Presque Isle
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia
- Rivers Casino Pittsburgh (starting Nov. 16)
- Mount Airy Casino
- Wind Creek Casino
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Harrah’s Philadelphia
Hours of other casinos in PA
The Meadows:
- Sunday-Thursday, 8-4 a.m.
- Friday-Saturday, 8-5 a.m.
Valley Forge Casino :
- Monday-Thursday, 10-3 a.m. Open 24 hours, 10 a.m. Friday through 3 a.m. Monday.
Hollywood Casino:
- Closed daily from 4 to 8 a.m. for deep cleaning.
Lady Luck Nemacolin:
- Open 24 hours for slot gaming
- Table games hours:
Monday-Friday, 3-12 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m.-12 a.m.
1% of casino employees test positive
The PGCB released figures last week that showed that fewer than 1% of casinos employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since the 12 brick-and-mortar locations opened in June. Rivers Pittsburgh had 28 cases and Parx had 25. A full breakdown can be found here.
Hollywood Casino In Pa Closed
Online casinos in PA
If you are 21+ and physically located in Pennsylvania, you don’t even have to leave your home to play. There are now 11 online casinos in Pennsylvania. Things got even livelier this week as Caesars and FanDuellaunched online live dealer games.
Lead image credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar