The past week in Pennsylvania gaming news brought baby-steps toward reopening casinos. Three of 12 will welcome guests next week with a slew of precautions.
Also in the process is resumption of sports which will bolster online sportsbook wagering.
And finally, sports figures speaking up about the social unrest gripping the nation as a result of police in Minnesota killing George Floyd.
Three casinos in Western PA set reopening dates
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh welcomes guests on June 9 at 9 a.m. The Meadows Casino in Washington County will open on Tuesday, June 9 at noon. And finally, Lady Luck Nemacolin opens Friday, June 12 at 10 a.m.
Details will differ to some extent, but Rivers Casino Pittsburgh has laid out plans which serve as something of a template.
The gaming floor and restaurants will be limited to 50% capacity. There will be no poker to start.
Other main points at Rivers:
- Masks are mandatory.
- 100 hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipe stations are throughout the gaming floor.
- Table game seating now promotes social distancing. There will be four spots at Roulette, three spots at Blackjack, and six spots at Craps. A dozen blackjack tables are now in the poker room.
Checks back on our PA casinos reopening live updates page as time goes on for further developments.
Sports set for a return rally, and also sportsbooks
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has announced pro sports teams may resume playing games with no fans watching in areas of the state that are in the “yellow” or “green” phase of reopening.
Allegheny County, the home to Pittsburgh and its sports teams the Penguins, Pirates, and Steelers should move to green by June 5.
Philadelphia and its teams, the Flyers, Phillies, Eagles, and 76ers should move to yellow by June 5.
That means pro sports teams should be clear soon to begin practicing.
PlayPennsylvania broke down the detailed return plans announced so far which could lead to a monster July for sports – and sports wagering – in July.
Pennsylvania sports teams and athletes weigh in on racism
Another incidence of police brutality resulting in the death of an unarmed black man shook the nation last week. Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minnesota police officers, protests broke out across the country, including in Pennsylvania.
PA sports teams and players released statements, calling for pursuit of justice and an end to systemic racism.
