Further COVID-19 Restrictions Cause More Misery for US Casinos

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 12/05/2020

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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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Restrictions Cause More Misery for US Casinos

Several states have been plunged into more COVID-19 misery following enhanced restrictions and lockdown measures. This comes as COVID-19 infection rates soar, with fears that the country is in the grip of a second spike.

Many businesses, including casinos, have been forced to close in the affected areas. This means more financial devastation for casinos just months after they were allowed to reopen following the first wave. Among the areas affected are Michigan and Philadelphia, with expectations that many other states and cities could follow suit over the coming days.

A Backward Step for Casinos

Following the first COVID-19 lockdown in March, casinos across the country were forced to close for several months in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

They finally began to emerge from the lockdown in the early part of the summer, with many still struggling to get back on track. However, following the onset of the predicted second wave of the pandemic, casinos across the country may be forced to close again.

Already, areas such as Michigan and Philadelphia have put new strict measures in place that will affect many businesses including casinos. Many other states are bringing in more stringent restrictions and this could mean more casino closures across the country over the winter period.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke about the new restrictions on Sunday, after announcing the temporary closure of casinos, along with other hospitality businesses. The current plan is to close them for three weeks, but this will have to be closely monitored.

During the announcement, the governor said, “We are in the worst moment of this pandemic to date.”

She spoke about the severity of the situation, adding

We are at the precipice and we need to take some action because as the weather gets colder and people spend more time indoors, the virus will spread, more people will get sick, and there will be more fatalities.

Last week saw Michigan report its most dire COVID-19 figures since the pandemic began, and this is a trend that is being seen in many states and cities across the country.

The United States is now under pressure to take steps that could see businesses closed down over the all-important festive period. This will dash the hopes of many businesses that were hoping to recoup losses from earlier in the year during the Christmas holidays.

Closely Monitoring the Situation

Casinos across the country have spent a fortune on making their venues COVID-19-safe, so that they could reopen in the summer. This has included adding partitions to tables, increasing sanitation and cleaning, and restricting the number of visitors permitted inside at one time. However, despite this, many will be plunged back into temporary closures to try and reduce the risk of infection.

While the closures at present are scheduled for a short period compared to the last lockdown, this could quickly change. If numbers of infections and deaths continue to rise, it will lead to lockdowns being extended and more stringent measures being put into place if and when they are eventually lifted.