Five Casinos in Arizona Partially Reopen after Expiry of the Stay-at-Home Order

On Friday, five casinos started their reopening campaigns in Phoenix Arizona after Governor Doug Ducey’s stay at home order officially expired. It has been two months since the state government ordered the closure of all gaming rooms and slot machines to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The brick and mortar gaming facilities partially reopened with new social distancing and sanitization protocols in place to ensure that patrons will be playing in safe and sterile environments.

By 9 o'clock in the morning, there were long lines of excited gamblers waiting for a chance to quench their gaming thirst in several casinos. Members of the staff donned in face masks, on the other hand, reminded the cheering crowd to maintain social distancing in the queues, and observe a range of other safety precautions as players got into casinos for the first time since 19th March.

Arizona Casinos that Partially Reopened on Friday

The five gaming houses that have started taking in players again on Friday are as follows;

1. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Indian Casino

The gaming facility opened its doors at 9:00 am, with strict social distance measures in place for both patrons and staff, complete with hand sanitizing stations. The slot machines available in the lobby are sufficiently spaced and blackjack gaming tables will now have a limited number of seats. But then, Bingo, keno, and poker rooms will remain closed as well as fitness, spa, and conference centers.

2. Three Gila River Hotels & Casinos

Three casinos, i.e. Vee Quiva, Lone Butte, and Wild Horse Pass, all operated by the Gila River Tribe resumed operations at 12:00 am on Friday. There is now a limit in the number of seats allowed during Bingo and table game sessions while slot machines are spaced using plexiglass shields to maintain social distancing.

Members of the staff in all the casinos were tested for COVID-19 before coming back to work and the tests will be carried out after every two weeks to ensure no infected individuals run the floors. On top of that, there are enhanced cleaning and sanitizing methods for machines and all other high touch areas in the casinos.

3. Fort McDowell Casino

Here, Blackjack tables were opened on Friday with Bingo rooms set for a 22nd May relaunching date. Tables and slot machines are also sufficiently spaced out to prevent players from getting too close to each other. For poker though, the management indicates that they are awaiting guidance from health, state, and federal agencies before resuming tournaments. Counters now have plexiglass shields and floors are marked 6-feet apart to encourage social distancing.

Fort McDowell also boasts of having an “aggressive new health and sanitation program”; for starters, before entry, visitors and employees will have their temperatures checked and anyone recording over 1000 F will be denied entry. All employees have undergone special COVID-19 training and they will operate the floor with face masks and gloves.

More Casinos to Follow Suit in The Coming Weeks

Apart from the five casinos, several other gaming facilities in the state have already announced their plans of resuming operations. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino in Payson had also announced that they’d get back to business on 16th while Casino del Sol in Tucson prepares for a 21st May reopening date. Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona in Scottsdale run by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Tribe will still remain closed this month as they talked of a 1st June reopening date. A lot more casinos, however, haven’t announced any plans to resume operations yet.