Maryland Casinos Hedge Bets With Phased-In Re-Openings
HANOVER, Md. (AP) — Gamblers are back at several Maryland casinos after three months of closures due to the coronavirus outbreak.
One of the state's largest casinos, Maryland Live, opened Friday evening in Hanover, but with numerous restrictions in place. Only top-tier VIPs could attend Friday's reopening, and only by making a reservation.
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The casino will phase in lower-level VIPs over the next week or so and open to the general public June 29.
Reservations will still be required and the casino plans to limit attendance to 25 percent capacity.
The poker room and table games are open, but with acrylic barriers and fewer gamblers at each table.
Casino officials told WTTG-TV in Washington that more than 2,000 employees have been brought back to work after nearly 2,500 were laid off when the coronavirus forced casinos to close in March.
Thermal Imaging Cameras Among New Safety Measures At Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel
Casinos near Cumberland, Ocean City and in Perryville also reopened Friday. The state's biggest casino, MGM National Harbor in Prince George's County, remains closed. The Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore is scheduled to open June 28.
Casino taxes generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the state.
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