Cuomo's new directive
Casinos in the state of New York must close bar and restaurant areas at 10pm under a new directive introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The measures come into full effect on Friday, November 13 at 10pm local time.
(WBNG/WENY) - On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced casinos in New York State may reopen on Sept. However, the casinos will have to operate at 25 percent capacity and will need advanced. Bars and restaurants at New York State casinos are required to close at 10 pm every night under new COVID-19 restrictions. Faced with rising coronavirus Gov. Andrew Cuomo is requiring bars. Best Online Casinos NY. Given the blend of people, the mix of cultures, the liberty of opinions, the open-mindedness and the renowned flair for profitable business, this state is known to have, we would have thought that New York online casinos would be a custom option by now. Is casino del sol in tucson arizona open.
Gov. Cuomo announced the new bar, restaurant, and gym curfew this week in an effort to combat the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the state:
Although gaming floors in casinos may remain open at all hours under the restrictions, operators must end bar and restaurant services from 10pm to 5am. Bar seating is completely banned.
gaming floors in casinos may remain open at all hours under the restrictions
During a press briefing, the New York governor told reporters he would introduce further statewide restrictions if the new measures did not reduce the spread of the virus. Speaking about restaurants and gyms, he said: 'If these numbers keep going crazy… you will go back to a close down.' The governor has appointed the State Liquor Authority to enforce the new rules.
Other state casino restrictions
New York State casinos closed in mid-March as a result of the ‘first wave' of coronavirus in the region. Gov. Cuomo permitted casinos to reopen on September 9, subject to a string of restrictions which has limited gaming revenue.
Casinos and video lottery terminal facilities must adhere to a 25% occupancy limit. Strict safety conditions are also in place, including mandatory face coverings and increased spacing between gaming machines. The State Gaming Commission is in charge of enforcing the rules.
New Jersey's similar measures
Earlier this week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced similar restrictions for the Garden State, ordering casinos to adhere to a 10pm curfew for bars and restaurants. The new measures will be detrimental to casinos in New Jersey's gambling hub of Atlantic City, all of which have struggled this year.
combined revenue loss of $112m for the second quarter of 2020, down 85% year-on-year
Because of the March closures, the properties posted a combined revenue loss of $112m for the second quarter of 2020, down 85% year-on-year. Although they got the go-ahead to reopen on July 2, Atlantic City's casinos have also been subject to capacity limits and strict safety protocols which have impeded recovery.
In September, however, New Jersey's Assembly Appropriations Committee passed a bill that guaranteed some financial relief for the state's nine casinos.
© ALEX COOPER / OBSERVER-DISPATCH Guests enter the doors of Turning Stone Resort Casino on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 in Verona. The Oneida Indian Nation has opened its three casino locations on Wednesday, but is following its own phased approach to reopening, calling this Phase 1. During this phase, the casinos will operate under a new Safer Together plan. The new guidelines include mandatory face coverings for staff and visitors in most areas, social distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols, no scheduled concerts until further notice and no visitors from outside a 120-mile radius.VERONA - Lines of people snaked from all the main entrances to the Turning Stone Resort Casino in central New York early Wednesday morning as crowds gathered more than an hour before the casino opened for the first time in three months.
The Oneida Indian Nation closed Turning Stone and its other casinos in mid-March after the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut jointly announced that the states will shut down casinos, gyms and movie theaters amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The nation's other two casinos, Point Place Casino in Bridgeport and Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango, also opened Wednesday, making them the first casinos in New York to reopen their doors.
Meanwhile, other casinos in New York have plans to reopen over the course of the next few weeks.
The Seneca Indian Nation said Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls will reopen June 18, followed by Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino on June 25 and Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino on July 2.
The rest of the state's 20 casinos have not yet been given state approval to reopen and are likely to be part of the last of the four phases of reopening in at least two weeks. The tribes have their own gaming compacts with the state and could open on their own schedules.
More: When will New York's casinos reopen? What Cuomo and the betting halls are saying
Phased approach at Turning Stone
© ALEX COOPER / OBSERVER-DISPATCH Guests enter the doors of Turning Stone Resort Casino on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 in Verona. The Oneida Indian Nation has opened its three casino locations on Wednesday, but is following its own phased approach to reopening, calling this Phase 1. During this phase, the casinos will operate under a new Safer Together plan. The new guidelines include mandatory face coverings for staff and visitors in most areas, social distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols, no scheduled concerts until further notice and no visitors from outside a 120-mile radius.Similar to how Gov. Andrew Cuomo is reopening certain regions throughout the state amid the pandemic, the Oneida Nation's casinos are opening in phases.
Wednesday's openings were part of the first phase.
For Turning Stone, phase one reopened the casino's gaming floor and some of the restaurants, according to nation officials. The casino's Exit 33 venues and the buffet are not part of Phase One and will reopen later on.
Nation officials said advancement to the next phases would be done in a safe and responsible manner. No timetable has yet been set.
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. said the county was involved in developing Turning Stone's reopening plan, calling the approach 'detailed and comprehensive.'
'It will be a positive for the business community,' Picente said. 'Hopefully everyone will go well.'
The Nation has outlined a number of safety protocols as part of an overall reopening plan called Safer Together.
The precautions include:
- Limited access to facilities for guests who travel from within 120 miles; identification verification will be used to aid contact tracing if it becomes necessary.
- Requirement of face coverings, wherever feasible, for employees, guests, vendors and the public.
- Gloves required for all employees working in direct contact with guests.
- Daily thermal temperature checks for every employee and health survey to identify potential COVID-19 exposure.
- At least 6 feet of separation between tables at all restaurants and bars.
More: Hudson Valley enters Phase 2: Here's what is reopening
Back to work at central New York casinos
© ALEX COOPER / OBSERVER-DISPATCH Guests enter the doors of Turning Stone Resort Casino on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 in Verona. The Oneida Indian Nation has opened its three casino locations on Wednesday, but is following its own phased approach to reopening, calling this Phase 1. During this phase, the casinos will operate under a new Safer Together plan. The new guidelines include mandatory face coverings for staff and visitors in most areas, social distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols, no scheduled concerts until further notice and no visitors from outside a 120-mile radius.With more than 4,759 employees, the nation is the largest employer in Oneida County.
Nonessential employees were furloughed and provided with some help, including coverage of their health care premiums.
Nation officials said employees with the Oneida Indian Nation Police Department, Oneida Health Services, Maple Leaf Market and SavOn were among those considered essential.
On Wednesday, the vast majority of the furloughed workers – numbering roughly 4,500 – returned to work, said Ray Halbritter, the CEO of Oneida Nation Enterprises.
'All those folks are really delighted to come back to work and try to get back to normal,' Halbritter said.
The new normal will require wearing a mask, said Halbritter, who described the face covering as the biggest change when it comes to visiting the nation's casinos.
'It was so hard the last three months,' Halbritter said. 'We've not closed since we opened. It's so good to be open again.'
More: Coronavirus in New York: Interactive map of cases and deaths by county
Seneca Nation plans to reopen in western New York
© ALEX COOPER / OBSERVER-DISPATCH Guests ride the escalators as Turning Stone Resort Casino opened on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 in Verona. The Oneida Indian Nation has opened its three casino locations on Wednesday, but is following its own phased approach to reopening, calling this Phase 1. During this phase, the casinos will operate under a new Safer Together plan. The new guidelines include mandatory face coverings for staff and visitors in most areas, social distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols, no scheduled concerts until further notice and no visitors from outside a 120-mile radius.Like the Oneida Nation, the Seneca Nation closed its casinos in mid-March.
The reopening of the Seneca Nation casinos will also return thousands to work, officials said.
'After being closed for nearly three months, we are now ready to move forward with the safe, responsible and systematic reopening of our gaming facilities,' said Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. in a statement.
'This is a signature moment in our region's economic recovery from the circumstances that arose as a result of this unprecedented public health crisis.'
Mirroring the Oneida Nation, all of the Seneca Nation facilities will open at reduced capacity, with strict protocols in place to protect the health and safety of guests and workers, officials said.
More: Phase 3 opening in New York: Have your nails done, go to a restaurant or get a tattoo
Ready to play and gamble
© ALEX COOPER / OBSERVER-DISPATCH Guests wait outside to enter Turning Stone Resort Casino on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 in Verona. The Oneida Indian Nation has opened its three casino locations on Wednesday, but is following its own phased approach to reopening, calling this Phase 1. During this phase, the casinos will operate under a new Safer Together plan. The new guidelines include mandatory face coverings for staff and visitors in most areas, social distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols, no scheduled concerts until further notice and no visitors from outside a 120-mile radius.The hundreds of visitors at Wednesday's opening at Turning Stone practiced social distancing as best they could, with the vast majority seen wearing cloth masks.
The throngs were welcomed by Halbritter and casino staff with cheers and applause as they entered the facility.
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Vinnie Dove of Elmira said he was happy to see the casino open.
Dove said he comes to Turning Stone several times a month and had been checking the casino's website daily to see when it would reopen.
'I'm here to play bingo,' he said.
Nanette Manning of Syracuse ventures to Turning Stone often, saying she was looking forward to playing poker.
Manning said she was not worried about the virus, saying she felt safe to return.
Md live casino buffet atlantic city. 'I've been in the house for three months,' she said.
More: New York City starts its reopening Monday amid unrest and economic uncertainty
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This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: These were the first casinos to reopen in New York
