Boost in Capacity Levels for Casinos in Mississippi

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 03/22/2021

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Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.

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Boost in Capacity Levels

There has been some good news for casinos in Mississippi this week. It has been announced that the maximum capacity for casinos will be increased to 75 percent as of later this week, although the mandate for wearing masks indoors at the casinos will remain in place.

This comes after updates to COVID-19 guidelines by the Mississippi Gaming Commission, with the MGC increasing capacity levels from 50 percent to 75 percent. The state governor, Tate Reeves, said that wearing masks in the state will no longer be mandatory from mid-week, but this will not apply in casinos where masks will still be worn.

Continued Protective Measures

Those who want to eat and drink inside the casino venues will be able to remove their masks temporarily in order to do so. On all other occasions, masks must still be worn until further notice from gaming authorities.

In a recent letter, the MGC wrote:

All persons in indoor public areas of a casino property shall be required to wear a mask or face shield covering the nose and mouth. Persons may remove masks temporarily while eating or drinking or when asked by casino staff for identification.

Other protective measures will be kept in place at the casinos as the second wave of the virus continues to affect people and businesses across the state. These include enhanced cleaning and sanitization, social distancing measures, and clear signage to help ensure all COVID-19 measures are adhered to.

Making a Difference

The increase in capacity will make a big difference to casinos in the state. Like venues in other states, the casinos in Mississippi have suffered financial devastation over the past year because of the global pandemic. They were forced to close for several months early last year when the virus broke out across the nation and were then only allowed to reopen with a variety of restrictions in place.

This resulted in casinos losing all in-person gambling revenue for several months, and then bringing in limited revenue after reopening due to capacity restrictions and other measures. In addition, casinos have had to spend a lot of money to bring in new measures designed to limit the spread of the virus and protect both patrons and employees.

With the additional capacity that is now being allowed, casinos will once again move a step closer to being able to operate at normal levels. This will make it easier for them to start increasing gambling revenue – something that the state will also benefit from.

While the wearing of masks will still be required, this is another way in which the casinos will be able to provide protection for gamblers and their own employees. This will continue to be mandatory for now, although things might change as the vaccination program kicks in and COVID-19 rates begin to fall.

In the meantime, casinos will be hoping for an increase in consumer confidence with regard to visiting indoor casino venues. This will enable them to make the most of the increased capacity now allowed.