Casinos are experiencing a promising start to reopening after being closed since mid-March. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says players are showing up and are not pushing back against virus spread mitigation efforts of wearing masks and social distancing.
“Everybody is playing according to the rules and I think they are just like a lot of us, glad to get back to some semblance of life before the virus hit,” said Jones.
Jones adds that people were lined up at the doors waiting on the casinos to reopen on Monday.
Jones says out of town guests are showing up since a majority of the state’s gaming tourism does not rely on air travel.
“Unlike Las Vegas where you have to fly in and you have a lot of other issues there, these are people from Texas coming into the Shreveport-Bossier area and into Lake Charles and some Louisiana folks,” said Jones.
Properties are limited to 25% occupancy and can operate half of their gaming positions. Before guests are allowed on the gaming floor, they go through a temperature check, sanitize their hands, are given masks, and encouraged to wear them.
Two Boyd Gaming properties are set to reopen today, bringing the grand total to 13 casinos back in business. Jones says there is still a chance that Diamond Jack Casino in Bossier City, which had previously announced a permanent closure, may still reopen.
“Even without Diamond Jack’s, we have 19 casinos in the state and once Orleans Parish opens back up, all 19 should be back in business,” said Jones.
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