COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania are at record highs. On Nov. 13, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that there were 5,531 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 254,387. It is the fourth consecutive day that the state has reported a record number of cases.

— All casinos in Pennsylvania that were not already closed have now been ordered to do so by the state Gaming Control Board. The order instructs all casinos to begin the process. The Meadows Racetrack & Casino offers world class casino gaming, dining, events, entertainment, and luxury hotel just 30 minutes south of Pittsburgh in Washington, PA. The casino also has AtmosAir, an indoor air quality purification system that has proven to neutralize coronavirus by more than 99.9%. Will other casinos in PA close again too? On Friday, Play Pennsylvania asked the PA Department of Health if the rising numbers meant a return to the color-coded phases and possible temporary closures for casinos. Pennsylvania’s casinos saw a large decrease in revenue last year. Casino closures contributed to the decrease last year. Casino closure days totaled 1,473 days last year, or 33 percent of the number of days the 13 casinos would have been operating in a normal year, and video gaming terminals were shut down for a similar percentage of days due to Covid-19 safety measures, according to the. PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The six state casinos still open, including The Meadows and Lady Luck Nemacolin, were ordered to close amid the coronavirus outbreak. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Gaming.

Play Pennsylvania asked the PA Department of Health if the rising numbers meant a return to the color-coded phases and possible temporary closures for casinos in Pennsylvania.

A representative responded:

“There is no plan at this time to return to the red, yellow, green mitigation steps and stay-at-home order that occurred in the spring.”

Some tips to slow the spread

The PA Department of Health reiterated that it was very concerned about the increase in cases. The representative said:

“We currently have protections in place, like wearing a mask and limits on large gatherings. Pennsylvanians can stop the spread. It is all of our responsibility to do the right thing. These are things that we can continue to do to stop the spread of COVID-19:

• Teleworking.
• Isolating or quarantining if you test positive or have exposure to someone who has.
• Businesses limiting capacity to 50%.”

More restrictions for Philadelphia?

Of the record number of cases reported on Friday, 1,158 were from Philadelphia. Mayor Jim Kenney’s office did not provide any indication of what its “changes in restrictions” might be and said they are still being finalized. Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley earlier this week said all restrictions are being considered, even a complete lockdown, according to Yahoo! News.

Rivers Casino Philadelphia is currently the only casino within the city limits. Live! Casino Philadelphia is expected to open in early 2021.

Rivers Philadelphia closed in mid-March and reopened on July 17. It experienced the longest closure of all 12 casinos in the commonwealth.

We must do everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Philadelphia. Specific details are still being finalized, but we plan to announce changes to restrictions on Monday, November 16. https://t.co/fgAPsfbU3P

— Jim #MaskUpPHL Kenney (@PhillyMayor) November 13, 2020

Health and safety protocols at PA casinos

Before you visit a casino in Pennsylvania, there are few things you should know. Your next visit will look different than your previous pre-coronavirus-closure casino excursion. Per the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), all casinos in the state must follow COVID-19 Casino Reopening Protocols, which detail the minimum safety and health-related requirements that are mandatory before reopening.

Key points to remember are:

• Casinos can reopen at 50% capacity.
• Employees and guests must wear masks.
• There are markings on the floor to promote social distancing.
• Enhanced cleaning is required throughout the facility.

Eating, drinking and smoking at PA casinos

In addition to the increased health and safety measures, some staples of casino visits have been put on a temporary pause.

Alcohol can only be served when food is purchased. Drink service on the casino floor is prohibited.

These new rules went into effect well before the November record-breaking numbers.

Under the guidance of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the PGCB, there is currently no smoking in Pennsylvania casinos either (effective July 3).

Gov. Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine signed orders that mandated restaurants can’t serve alcohol for on-site consumption past 11 p.m. (effective Sept 21).

Hours of PA casinos

Casinos in Pennsylvania started to close in mid-March to slow the spread of coronavirus. They were closed for over 100 days before the first few started welcoming back guests in June. However, not all returned to around-the-clock operations.

Casinos in PA open 24 hours:

• Parx
• Presque Isle
• Rivers Casino Philadelphia
• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh (starting Nov. 16)
• Mount Airy Casino
• Wind Creek Casino
• Mohegan Sun Pocono
• Harrah’s Philadelphia

Hours of other casinos in PA

The Meadows:

• Sunday-Thursday, 8-4 a.m.
• Friday-Saturday, 8-5 a.m.

Valley Forge Casino :

• Monday-Thursday, 10-3 a.m. Open 24 hours, 10 a.m. Friday through 3 a.m. Monday.

Hollywood Casino:

• Closed daily from 4 to 8 a.m. for deep cleaning.

Lady Luck Nemacolin:

• Open 24 hours for slot gaming
• Table games hours:
  Monday-Friday, 3-12 a.m.
  Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m.-12 a.m.

1% of casino employees test positive

The PGCB released figures last week that showed that fewer than 1% of casinos employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since the 12 brick-and-mortar locations opened in June. Rivers Pittsburgh had 28 cases and Parx had 25. A full breakdown can be found here.

Online casinos in PA

If you are 21+ and physically located in Pennsylvania, you don’t even have to leave your home to play. There are now 11 online casinos in Pennsylvania. Things got even livelier this week as Caesars and FanDuellaunched online live dealer games.

Lead image credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

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.

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

Are Pa Casinos Closing Again

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.

“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.

Casinos In Pa

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.

Casino Closings Pa

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.

Pennsylvania Casinos Locations

But by mid-November, five of the nine live poker rooms in PA had reopened.