Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino in Islandia and casinos across New York State will belatedly reopen from the coronavirus shutdown on Sept. 9, with restrictions, officials said Thursday.
Casinos will be capped at 25 percent capacity, are required to install enhanced air conditioning filtration systems, and must follow social distancing mandates such as wearing masks and staying six feet apart, Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters during a conference call.
“We’ve made the determination that we can safely reopen casinos with enhanced air filtration and strict safety protocols including mandatory masks and social distancing,” the governor said.
Casinos were closed along with most other businesses to curb the spread of coronavirus when its spread peaked in New York in March. But casinos were among a handful of industries, including movie theaters and arena-based sports and live entertainment, that have yet to reopen since the state reached the fourth and final phase of the reopening plan this summer.
To meet reopening requirements, Jake’s 58, the only casino in Suffolk County, said it will follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on sanitizing protocols and cleaning throughout our venue, as well as mandatory mask wearing, social distancing, temperature checks, and other measures.
While slot machines will be open, players must remain six feet apart. Table games will require barriers between patrons. And no food or beverages will be allowed on gaming floors.
“We thank the governor and the New York State Gaming Commission for the thoughtful discussion about our reopening plans that helped bring about today’s announcement,” Jake’s 58 said on its Facebook page. “We are ready, and we look forward to bringing back our employees and welcoming our guests.”
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