Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued an order late Thursday ordering all casinos closed once again until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.
Support Overview. Parx Casino ® is Pennsylvania's #1 casino Enjoy everything you love about Parx from anywhere in Pennsylvania through Parx Casino ® Online Parx Casino Online is unmatched in that it brings all your favorite casino. Casino dealers, waiters and floor managers will ask about your health. Patrons of a post-pandemic Parx Casino are in for a very different experience on reopening.
The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
Also ordered shut were all 40 truck stop video gaming terminallocations. They are shuttered on the same schedule as casinos.
For now, there does not appear to be a plan to shut down horse racing.
Rivers already closed due to orders from Philly Health Department
Rivers Casino Philadelphia already closed on Nov. 20 on orders from the City of Philadelphia.
All casinos were initially ordered closed in March due to the virus. They had a phased reopening after being closed for months.
Casinos newly reordered to close
The newly affected properties are:
- Harrah's Philadelphia
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
- Lady Luck Nemacolin
- Live! Casino Pittsburgh
- Meadows Casino and Racetrack
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Mount Airy Casino Resort
- Parx Casino
- Presque Isle Racetrack and Casino
- Rivers Pittsburgh
- Valley Forge Casino and Resort
- Wind Creek Bethlehem
Live! near Pittsburgh had just debuted, ordered closed
The new Live! Pittsburgh had just opened its doors on Nov. 24. A sister facility, Live! Casino Philadelphia, is under construction with no announced opening date beyond 'no later than the end of the first quarter of 2021.'
Gaming officials aiding closure planning
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced Thursday that it is assisting in the shutdown procedures.
Executive Director Kevin O'Toole said public health and the safety of patrons, casino employees and others are of paramount importance. O'Toole said:
'The board is continuously monitoring developments and will update licensees and the public as frequently as possible with any new developments.'
The closures do not affect other forms of gaming regulated by the Gaming Control Board offered via the internet, including online casino games, sports betting and daily fantasy contests.
PA Casino response, messages to employees and patrons
Harrah's Philadelphia put out a memo to team members on Thursday assuring them that they all will continue to earn pay and benefits through the closure period. Pay during the period is based on average wages over the previous eight weeks.
Frank Leone, COO and general manager of Mount Airy Casino Resort, said in a presser that reservations through Jan. 3 can be cancelled without penalty. Patrons can call (877) 682-4791 for additional information. He also said:
'Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by this pandemic. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the property on January 4.'
PA horse tracks still running for now
According to the PA Department of Agriculture press secretary, Shannon Powers, tracks are currently not affected by the closure of casinos.
Is Parx Casino Open
'Tracks open at this time of year are Parx, Harrah's Philadelphia, Meadows and Penn National. The Mohegan Sun at Pocono and Presque Isle Downs are normally closed this time of year.'
Other activities ordered stopped or limited
Also, indoor dining will again be prohibited. Outdoor dining, takeout food service and takeout alcohol sales may continue.
Wolf ordered outdoor gatherings and events of more than 50 people to cease.
In-person businesses that serve the public may operate at 50% of maximum capacity — except if limited to a smaller capacity by existing orders.
Wolf, who himself tested positive for the virus but is asymptomatic, also ordered the closure of indoor operations at gyms and fitness facilities and in-person indoor businesses in the entertainment industry. That includes movie theaters, museums, bowling alleys and others.
Sports for K-12 students and in-person extracurricular school activities must cease, but extracurricular activities may continue virtually.
Spectators cannot attend college sports events. Wolf said the continuation of college sports might continue per federal and state health directives.
The new restrictions were announced the same day a vaccine was approved to immunize people against the virus, though the rollout is still to come.
Previous reopening procedures
COVID-19 Casino Reopening Protocols were part of the previous reopenings. They detailed minimum safety and health-related requirements that are mandatory before reopening.
The key points then were:
- Casinos can reopen at 50% capacity.
- Employees and guests must wear masks.
- There are markings on the floor to promote social distancing.
- Mandatory enhanced cleaning is required throughout the facility.
At first, poker rooms were not authorized to operate following the first shutdown due to players' handling of cards and chips.
But by mid-November, five of the nine live poker rooms in PA had reopened.
BENSALEM, Pa. (CBS) — Monday was reopening day for Parx Casino in Bensalem. New hours are just part of the changes here — they opened up at 9 a.m. Monday morning and will stay open until 3 a.m. Parx will operate on a 24-hour basis Friday through Sunday.
It's good news for many who Eyewitness News spoke with today who said they're planning several trips back this week alone.
Did Parx In Bensalem Open Today
'Welcome back to Parx Casino. We are so happy to be open,' Parx Casino Director of Public Relations Carrie Nork Minelli said.
Once the doors opened in Bensalem, new health and safety protocols were the focal point.
All guests will be required to wear a mask and although horse racing has already resumed, spectators will not be permitted in the stands.
'The three big components of the changes going on are the wearing of the masks, the social distancing and the sanitation and cleanliness of the property,' Minelli said.
Upon entry, guests are immediately met with a thermal camera temperature scan. Disabled slot machines separate usable ones by six feet and glass barriers were also used between machines and on table games.
'There's distancing, there are lids on cups — everybody is protected,' Troy Bader said.
Support Overview. Parx Casino ® is Pennsylvania's #1 casino Enjoy everything you love about Parx from anywhere in Pennsylvania through Parx Casino ® Online Parx Casino Online is unmatched in that it brings all your favorite casino. Casino dealers, waiters and floor managers will ask about your health. Patrons of a post-pandemic Parx Casino are in for a very different experience on reopening.
The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
Also ordered shut were all 40 truck stop video gaming terminallocations. They are shuttered on the same schedule as casinos.
For now, there does not appear to be a plan to shut down horse racing.
Rivers already closed due to orders from Philly Health Department
Rivers Casino Philadelphia already closed on Nov. 20 on orders from the City of Philadelphia.
All casinos were initially ordered closed in March due to the virus. They had a phased reopening after being closed for months.
Casinos newly reordered to close
The newly affected properties are:
- Harrah's Philadelphia
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
- Lady Luck Nemacolin
- Live! Casino Pittsburgh
- Meadows Casino and Racetrack
- Mohegan Sun Pocono
- Mount Airy Casino Resort
- Parx Casino
- Presque Isle Racetrack and Casino
- Rivers Pittsburgh
- Valley Forge Casino and Resort
- Wind Creek Bethlehem
Live! near Pittsburgh had just debuted, ordered closed
The new Live! Pittsburgh had just opened its doors on Nov. 24. A sister facility, Live! Casino Philadelphia, is under construction with no announced opening date beyond 'no later than the end of the first quarter of 2021.'
Gaming officials aiding closure planning
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced Thursday that it is assisting in the shutdown procedures.
Executive Director Kevin O'Toole said public health and the safety of patrons, casino employees and others are of paramount importance. O'Toole said:
'The board is continuously monitoring developments and will update licensees and the public as frequently as possible with any new developments.'
The closures do not affect other forms of gaming regulated by the Gaming Control Board offered via the internet, including online casino games, sports betting and daily fantasy contests.
PA Casino response, messages to employees and patrons
Harrah's Philadelphia put out a memo to team members on Thursday assuring them that they all will continue to earn pay and benefits through the closure period. Pay during the period is based on average wages over the previous eight weeks.
Frank Leone, COO and general manager of Mount Airy Casino Resort, said in a presser that reservations through Jan. 3 can be cancelled without penalty. Patrons can call (877) 682-4791 for additional information. He also said:
'Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by this pandemic. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the property on January 4.'
PA horse tracks still running for now
According to the PA Department of Agriculture press secretary, Shannon Powers, tracks are currently not affected by the closure of casinos.
Is Parx Casino Open
'Tracks open at this time of year are Parx, Harrah's Philadelphia, Meadows and Penn National. The Mohegan Sun at Pocono and Presque Isle Downs are normally closed this time of year.'
Other activities ordered stopped or limited
Also, indoor dining will again be prohibited. Outdoor dining, takeout food service and takeout alcohol sales may continue.
Wolf ordered outdoor gatherings and events of more than 50 people to cease.
In-person businesses that serve the public may operate at 50% of maximum capacity — except if limited to a smaller capacity by existing orders.
Wolf, who himself tested positive for the virus but is asymptomatic, also ordered the closure of indoor operations at gyms and fitness facilities and in-person indoor businesses in the entertainment industry. That includes movie theaters, museums, bowling alleys and others.
Sports for K-12 students and in-person extracurricular school activities must cease, but extracurricular activities may continue virtually.
Spectators cannot attend college sports events. Wolf said the continuation of college sports might continue per federal and state health directives.
The new restrictions were announced the same day a vaccine was approved to immunize people against the virus, though the rollout is still to come.
Previous reopening procedures
COVID-19 Casino Reopening Protocols were part of the previous reopenings. They detailed minimum safety and health-related requirements that are mandatory before reopening.
The key points then were:
- Casinos can reopen at 50% capacity.
- Employees and guests must wear masks.
- There are markings on the floor to promote social distancing.
- Mandatory enhanced cleaning is required throughout the facility.
At first, poker rooms were not authorized to operate following the first shutdown due to players' handling of cards and chips.
But by mid-November, five of the nine live poker rooms in PA had reopened.
BENSALEM, Pa. (CBS) — Monday was reopening day for Parx Casino in Bensalem. New hours are just part of the changes here — they opened up at 9 a.m. Monday morning and will stay open until 3 a.m. Parx will operate on a 24-hour basis Friday through Sunday.
It's good news for many who Eyewitness News spoke with today who said they're planning several trips back this week alone.
Did Parx In Bensalem Open Today
'Welcome back to Parx Casino. We are so happy to be open,' Parx Casino Director of Public Relations Carrie Nork Minelli said.
Once the doors opened in Bensalem, new health and safety protocols were the focal point.
All guests will be required to wear a mask and although horse racing has already resumed, spectators will not be permitted in the stands.
'The three big components of the changes going on are the wearing of the masks, the social distancing and the sanitation and cleanliness of the property,' Minelli said.
Upon entry, guests are immediately met with a thermal camera temperature scan. Disabled slot machines separate usable ones by six feet and glass barriers were also used between machines and on table games.
'There's distancing, there are lids on cups — everybody is protected,' Troy Bader said.
A handful of restaurants inside were open at 50% capacity.
Outside, a line of hit-it-big hopefuls remained ever-present.
'It's time to get out and have a little bit of fun,' one person said.
It's Gabby Bonetz's 21st birthday. She's an essential grocery store worker so along with her parents, they don't see a trip to the casino as an additional COVID-19 safety risk.
'I'm hoping she hits it big. That would be the perfect birthday present,' one person said.
Parx can only operate at half capacity, including their staff, but add they wanted to remain well below that to ensure a smooth and safe reopening.
The objective for guests? Catch some extra cash and nothing more.
'Oh yeah, no corona, no coronavirus,' one guest said.
Cards and chips all get the wipedown treatment too.
We did ask about smoking since you can't do that with a mask on and it gets a little complicated. At Parx, you can't smoke at table games, which is new.
You can at some slots but have to put your mask right back on and you can't walk around while smoking.
CBS3's Alexandria Hoff contributed to this report.
