Pennsylvania Gambling Body Lays Out Reopening Protocols for Casino Industry

In March of 2020 all of Pennsylvania’s prominent casinos were closed down as part of the state’s efforts to combat the growing threat posed by the coronavirus.

Almost half a year later, the vast majority of these important venues have reopened, welcoming customers back inside according to protocols put in place with the oversight of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

If you are eager to return to the top casinos in Pennsylvania found on casinos.us, it is certainly sensible to read up on what to expect when you arrive for your visit. To help you avoid confusion or disappointment, here is a look at the protocols and procedures which are being utilized to keep casino customers safe state-wide.

Customer requirements

Because casinos are invariably composed of large, enclosed indoor spaces that would normally be packed with people in close proximity to one another having a good time, it should not be a surprise to see that customers are expected to wear face masks whenever they are on-site.

There are a number of other requirements imposed by state officials in order to limit the likelihood of infection, including the need for visitors to adhere to stricter hygiene guidance thanks to the use of hand sanitizer stations set up in all public places.

Smoking has also been banned in casinos across the state, signaling one of the most significant changes to the atmosphere that gamblers can expect on the casino floor. No doubt there will be plenty of guests who are pleased by this change, while others will be inconvenienced by the need to step outside if they wish to smoke.

Casino restrictions & changes to amenities

It is not just visitors to casinos in Pennsylvania who will need to make adequate preparations ahead of a trip; the venues themselves are being required to adhere to new higher standards for hygiene, while also introducing limits designed to reduce risks for customers and staff alike.

For example, casinos are only allowed to operate at 50% of their maximum capacity in terms of visitor numbers at any one time. Likewise the number of players who can participate in a given table game has been cut, to allow for social distancing guidance to be observed. Being able to crowd around a table to watch someone who is on a hot streak strike it lucky is thus not currently possible.

Slot machines have also been impacted by these protocol changes. The casinos that have reopened are operating fewer machines so that gaps between players can be created without putting people into difficult situations where they are unavoidably close to other casino patrons.

Poker rooms remain entirely shut off, since they are unavoidably claustrophobic and thus far from ideal in the current pandemic. Likewise casinos have been forced to temporarily halt the serving of buffet meals, since this kind of communal dining experience has hygiene challenges in normal circumstances, let alone during this ongoing crisis.

There is still the potential for long term damage to be done if these restrictions are protracted; store closures elsewhere have already demonstrated what complications can arise because of the coronavirus conundrum. Even so, casinos in Pennsylvania seem to be adapting and surviving for the moment.

Alternative options

In outlining these new protocols and providing information about which casinos have now reopened, the PGCB also makes the incredibly pertinent point that none of the state’s online gambling options have been hampered by COVID-19 restrictions. In fact the opposite is true, since these web-based digital services have thrived at a time when fewer people are able to leave their homes and enjoy activities at the bricks and mortar locations they would usually frequent.

In May alone the revenue generated by online gambling was reported at just under $56 million in Pennsylvania alone. This of course occurred during a time when all land-based casinos were still closed, although the good news is that under state regulations the only organizations that are able to operate online casinos are those with a physical presence in Pennsylvania as well.

The upshot of all this is that casino fans who either live in this state or are close enough to make the journey can now visit a variety of venues in different locations and experience the vast majority of the games and facilities that they have to offer, albeit with some fairly significant caveats.

Meanwhile the fact that the state allows online gambling from its bricks and mortar casino operators means that it is still possible to support these businesses without leaving the comfort of your own home. This is not only good for the individual operators, but is also an economic injection that is needed during this time of intense uncertainty when lots of other industries are having to reconfigure the way they work.