Out-of-work employees of New York state’s casinos rallied outside of the state Capitol last Thursday. Their goal was to urge Governor Andrew Cuomo to reopen private casinos after Covid-19 and state health guidelines forced them to shut down. For these employees, continued closures threaten not only their livelihoods but also the well-being of their families and the community at large.

Governor Cuomo has been firm in his commitment to a continued shut down. He has stated that his decision to reopen or remain closed is based on “an issue of density, the likelihood of compliance and the essential nature of the business.”

The State Perspective

Freeman Klopott, spokesman for the state of New York’s Budget Division, said “casinos remain closed along with similar activities across the state as they invite congregation among customers in proximity to each other while eating and drinking, activities that don’t allow for consistent mask-wearing,” New York state has kept in strict compliance with the latest data and health guidelines pertaining to infection rates among its citizens. Their goal is to reopen the economy in a timely but safe manner and, says Klopott, “we are doing the same when it comes to casinos.”

In light of casinos reopening in neighboring states, Klopott said, “We’ve already seen casinos in California, Arizona, and Miami re-open and then close due to Covid-19. In New York, we will continue to track the data, the science and activity at casinos around the country, and will make a decision on re-opening them here when health experts determine it is safe to do so.”

An Employee’s Take

Yet casinos are one of the few remaining industries in New York that are still closed. They are among movie theaters and larger entertainment businesses to remain shut down, rather than being reopened on a limited basis. Many of the state’s other forms of business are back up and running albeit within New York’s Covid-19 related health guidelines.

In addition, the seven Native American operated casinos in New York have reopened. Located on sovereign land in central and western New York, they are operating under their own health guidelines and safety precautions.

Meanwhile, thousands of employees of New York’s private casinos remain out of work. Last month, over 4,000 workers were handed layoff notices. This includes workers from Rivers Casino Resorts World Catskills and Resorts World New York City, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs.

Many at Thursday’s rally simply want more information from the government and guidelines on what to expect moving forward. Valerie McIntyre, a Table Gaming Supervisor at del Lago Casino in Seneca County said, I ask Governor Cuomo on our behalf: Please see us. Please hear us. We need to work. We need to support our families. We need to begin to live again.” Jeff Gural owns Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. He thinks that Governor Cuomo is doing a great job of keeping infection rates in the state down. However, there is no doubt that he would like to reopen and welcome back his employees and patrons. He said, “the hard part for me is I don’t know what to tell my employees on whether to wait or look for another job.” The goal of Thursday’s rally was to elicit exactly that response from New York’s Governor and Legislature.

For many of the city’s residents, the reopening of Detroit’s three gambling halls could not have come at a better time. The long-awaited reopening of the MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown Casino, and MotorCity Casino Hotel has been overdue according to local resident Curtis Martin. The 87-year-old had high hopes of winning as he entered Greektown Casino on Wednesday. He said, “I’m glad they’re opened, but I think they’ve been closed for too long.”

Greektown Casino and MotorCity Casino opened to the general public this past Wednesday. MGM Grand Detroit had a soft opening on Wednesday and reopened its doors officially on Friday. Said Matt Buckley, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Operations at MGM Grand Detroit, “we wanted our best customers to get the first taste of what the new normal is and there are so many new safety protocols, it’s definitely a different experience.” He went on, “we wanted our team members to get used to it too before we have the masses come in and overwhelm them.”

A Different Casino Atmosphere

Martin and other casino guests did not walk in to the same gambling hall they once knew. Due to the fallout of Covid-19, casinos were required to adhere to numerous state-mandated safety guidelines in order to reopen. Safety measures included sanitation stations, spaced out seating at the slot machines, temperature checks, and overall fewer patrons on the gambling floor. Michigan guidelines stipulate only 15% occupancy is permitted.

At the soft opening on Wednesday, MGM Grand Detroit dealers worked behind plexiglass barriers. All the while, cleaning crews worked throughout the casino keeping slot machines and commonly touched surfaces clean. The casinos also set up nearly 200 sanitation stations made up of sinks, hand sanitizer, and wipe dispensers.

Much Needed Relief

The bright side is that the reopening has allowed hundreds of casino employees and staff to return to work. “This decision allows us to initially recall up to 50% of our staff, providing critical employment and health benefits,” says Bruce Dall, President of MotorCity Casino Hotel. MGM Grand Detroit was able to recall just under half of its 2,800 employees.

All three casinos were suffering under the forced shutdown. For the same period in 2019 the three casinos reported a combined revenue of $735.4 million according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board. This year, that number was down to a year to date total of just $299.2 million, a drop of roughly 60%.

The City of Detroit saw the effects of the shutdown in the form of lost tax revenue. Whether this restricted reopening will make up for lost revenue remains to be seen. David P. Massaron, Chief Financial Officer for the City of Detroit said Wednesday, “In our budget, we assumed we would be receiving $3 million per month in early months as the casinos reopened. At this point it is unclear that revenues will be at that level.” Still, having the casinos opened at all is a far more favorable scenario for the city than continued closures.

The Plainridge Park Casino opened its doors on Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. for the first time since closing due to the coronavirus pandemic. States throughout the country have already begun reopening casinos, including neighboring Rhode Island and Connecticut. Taking a look at the successful safety practices put in place at these facilities, Plainridge and the state of Massachusetts hope to successfully relaunch the industry in their state.

Gambling in Massachusetts

Residents in the state of Massachusetts have come to know a wide variety of legal betting options outside of the state’s lottery; however, these options became extremely limited once brick-and-mortar locations were forced to close their doors in March, due to fears surrounding the spread of COVID-19.

Within the state, residents have had the pleasure of wagering on licensed horse and dog racing, doing so at a number of tracks and pari-mutuels. Plainridge Racecourse is one of two active racetracks within the state, making it a large attraction for those interested in wagering on harness racing. Massachusetts is also home to a number of commercial and tribal casinos, where residents can enjoy slots, table games, and a number of other casino staples. Plainridge itself does not offer table games but is home to roughly 1,500 slot machines. These enticing gaming options were completely wiped out three months ago, when businesses throughout the United States were forced to suddenly close their doors, dealing a serious blow to the gaming industry. Now, as states begin reopening businesses, facilities like Plainridge are hoping to get back on track.

New Safety Accommodations

Like many casinos reopening around the country, Plainridge has taken into consideration a great number of safety precautions to ensure that patrons could return to play without forcing another closure. In order to achieve this goal, Plainridge has minimized contact between customers, established regular cleaning protocol, and rolled out a number of rules to help enforce social distancing. Some of these changes are immediately apparent to anyone who is returning to the casino for the first time in four months.

At the public entrance to the slots parlor and horse track, guests are greeted with rope stanchions to ensure that they are maintaining appropriate social distance when entering the premises. All guests are required to wear masks and the casino will be using kiosks to monitor the temperature of those who are entering the building. Throughout the casino, a number of plexiglass partitions have been erected to place a divider between players, and between players and casino employees. The partitions are a result of the guidance provided by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The commission also had Plainridge close about half of their 1,500 slot machines in order to keep customers six feet apart. In the dining area, tables have been spread out to accommodate for the recommended six-foot space deemed appropriate for social distancing. While these changes are noticeable, casino workers hope that they will not negatively impact the customer experience.

Before closing due to the pandemic, Plainridge was operating 24 hours a day seven days a week; Under the current circumstances, the casino plans to run on reduced weekday hours, from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.. On Fridays and Saturdays, Plainridge will be open for the full 24 hours. Plainridge also expects to resume harness racing as early as next week.

Leading the Vanguard

Lance George, the general manager of Plainridge, expressed his relief in the fact that the casino’s employees can finally return to work. Due to the sudden closure, employees at the facility were laid off or furloughed over the past few months. The unexpected cuts saw the casino’s workforce drop from 450 to just 20 over the three-month period. While there is no guarantee that the casino industry will be booming upon reopening, George is hopeful that Plainridge will bring in enough business to get back on track and help some of his employees get back to work.

Plainridge Park Casino was the first to open its doors in the state, but other casinos hope this is the start of the industry getting back to business. The gambling and hospitality industry throughout the country has suffered during this period, but now casinos and resorts are preparing to reopen under new safety guidelines like the ones that Plainridge have put in place. Since Plainridge’s reopening, both Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield have announced their decision to open early next week, presumably under similar safety guidelines. Just across state lines in Rhode Island, Lincoln and Tiverton casinos have been open since last month, while Connecticut casinos opened a few weeks ago. As Massachusetts begins to reopen their own casinos, officials throughout the state hope that the industry can continue to trend in the right direction.

Casinos, hotels, and resorts were forced to close their doors in March as the threat of Covid-19 rapidly spread throughout the country. The unprecedented closure of these businesses raised many concerns and questions surrounding the possibility of reopening in a world that has been changed significantly by the looming threat of the infectious disease. Now, after months of businesses being closed, stay-at-home orders, and increased health safety measures, casinos throughout Las Vegas are reopening their doors to welcome back customers. The reopening effort includes a number of new rules and regulations to help monitor and prevent the spread of the coronavirus, as businesses try and weigh the pros and cons of reopening.

Reopening in the “New Normal”

Throughout the country, states have slowly seen a decrease in the number of new coronavirus cases, which has resulted in a push for businesses to reopen. Unexpected closures have led to some of the highest unemployment rates the country has ever seen, as well as a loss of millions of dollars in revenue for businesses who have been forced to close. For Sin City, this means that its greatest source of revenue has been M.I.A. for 78 days. Now, with number of new coronavirus cases on the decline, these businesses are launching a plan to welcome back customers in a safe environment.

In early June, casinos on the Strip reopened their doors and welcomed large crowds with a water show at the Bellagio Hotel and a new motto for visitors: Think dirty thoughts but keep your hands clean. Guests returned to a number of significant changes put in place at their favorite casinos. Table dealers are separated from players by Plexiglas, dice are rinsed in sanitizer after every throw at a craps table, guests are required to have a mandatory temperature check before entering, and customers are strongly encouraged to wear face masks. Officials believe that these measures will help them get back to business as usual, while ensuring the safety of the guests that come play at their casinos.

A number of other unexpected changes were part of the reopening process as well. Many casino resorts decided to waive parking fees and may continue to waive these fees for the rest of the year. Customers are also being greeted with goodie bags, which may include face masks, sanitizer, and a tool they can use to open doors and pus elevator buttons without having to touch the surfaces directly. Other attempts to create a contactless customer experience include scannable QR code menus and mobile app hotel check-in.

Governor Steve Sisolak has expressed his confidence that the city is taking every precaution possible during this reopening process. Sisolak was quoted in the New York Times saying, “I don’t think you’ll find a safer place than Las Vegas,” which has proven to be more than enough encouragement based on the wave of visitors the city has seen since reopening their doors.

Impressive Crowds

The reopening seemed to be a welcome escape for people who have been living under strict social distancing guidelines for the past couple months. Hotels and casinos were busier than expected, which has led businesses to accelerate their reopening plans in the coming weeks.

Although the large crowds may be a welcome sight for business owners, it could mean danger for customers in terms of an increase in coronavirus cases. Casino floors were full of customers who were not wearing face coverings or practicing proper social distancing; two things that are included in the guidelines for reopening but have proven to be a difficult rule to reinforce. Despite Sisolak’s initial optimism about the reopening, he does plan to reverse the reopening if it appears that the state has seen a steep increase in the number of coronavirus cases.

Over the next few weeks officials will be able to analyze whether or not the reopening has led to the spread of coronavirus. If so, businesses may have to introduce additional safety precautions to protect customers, or potentially close their doors once more. It seems as though all parties are willing to do everything they can to keep the doors open; time will tell whether or not the current safety measures will be enough.

In Maryland, Anne Arundel County is rolling out an innovative Eviction Protection Program to help people throughout the community overcome the financial hardships that the coronavirus has brought. As the pandemic has forced millions into unemployment, rent and mortgage payments have been put on hold, but the possibility of foreclosure and eviction still looms for when payments resume in the future. Anne Arundel’s progressive program relies on the revenues of video slot machines at Live! Casino to help for citizens struggling to make ends meet.

Coronavirus Initial Impact

The country has taken drastic measures to help stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus, changing the daily lives of every American. The need for immediate social distancing and sanitary practices that limit social interaction has led to a change in the American workforce that has left many without work. Virtually overnight, those working the service industry, such as retail employees, restaurant workers, or casino employees, found themselves completely without work.

Unemployment rates throughout the country have reached an all-time high, leaving millions of Americans without work and struggling to make ends meet as the country has shut down to counteract the spread of the coronavirus. In response, Anne Arundel County, like many other areas throughout the United States, has suspended evictions and foreclosures. This temporary suspension of payments is a small comfort, considering that the missed payments for tenants, landlords, and homeowners will continue to add up over time. At some point, payments will have to be made, and for those who have lost work during this pandemic, those payments pose a serious threat to their financial security.

Slots as a Solution

Arundel Community Development Services Policy and Development Coordinator Erin Karpewicz noted that many people in the county spend more than 50% of their income on housing. For those who have found themselves recently unemployed due to the pandemic, this means that the potential loss of income could lead to homelessness if they are unable to pay for their housing once the suspension of payments is lifted. Anne Arundel officials have recognized the immediate concerns for these groups and are prepared to roll out their Eviction Prevention Program early next week.

The program will turn to the proceeds generated from video slot machines at Live! Casino, to help benefit households that financially qualify. In order to qualify for the program, residents must be earning 80% or less of the area median income. This figure is adjusted for household size; for example, the threshold for a family of four would be $75,500. If a household does qualify financially, they are responsible for providing a letter stating that their rent has fallen behind, due to a disruption of income from the coronavirus. This household must also provide a form of documentation for the household’s income. The Eviction Prevention Program officially opens on April 20, and Anne Arundel County officials are urging residents to take advantage of financial counseling through Arundel Community Development services.

Hope in Trying Times

The Eviction Prevention Program is a result of the efforts of the Local Development Council. The LDC is a state-mandated group responsible for determining how a video lottery terminal facility affects the surrounding community, and what community needs can be met through the spending of proceeds produced from these machines. Anne Arundel receives 4.51% of revenues from the video lottery terminals at Live!, which will directly benefit affected residents in the three zip codes surrounding the casino. Additional money from the county’s general fund will benefit the remaining residents in other zip codes throughout the county.

In the 2020 calendar year, Live! Has already made $91.5 million from video lottery terminals alone. This revenue resulted in the $500,000 made available through the Eviction Prevention Program and will be paired with $500,000 from the county’s general fund. Officials noted their decision was easy, due to the clear immediate need for the county workforce, which is largely made up of retail and hospitality workers.

Anne Arundel officials are making a clear effort to use the revenue generated from local casinos to help benefit and support their community. The combination of this financial support, as well as their financial counseling resources, provide a safety net for at-risk citizens, hopefully easing some of the concerns that the coronavirus has caused. The development of such a program could act as a blueprint for counties throughout the country, who are looking to provide support to residents who need it most.

As the spread of Covid-19 forces businesses to close throughout the country, Penn National Gaming finds themselves not only closing their doors but also halting all future projects. The rapidly spreading pandemic has forced businesses across the globe to close for the foreseeable future, and tourism and casino businesses appear to be taking the hardest hit. As Penn National operations come screeching to a halt, their stock continues to plummet, and the future of their operations hang in the balance. Now, the company is looking to rely on credit or a potential stimulus package to help them in these trying times.

Immediate Impact

Penn National has been forced to suspend operation at all of their Nevada locations, including Tropicana Las Vegas, The M Resort, and Cactus Petes for at least 30 days; with the rate at which Covid-19 is spreading, it is possible that these locations could be closed for even longer. The closure of these Nevada locations will immediately impact the 3,200 employees who work there. Throughout the entire country, Penn National has closed 34 total properties. The closures are the result of mandatory orders from various state governors who have called for the suspension of all nonessential businesses to help stop the spread of the virus. In the month of March in 2019 Penn National brought in more than $46.9 million from just two casinos in the state of Pennsylvania. Now the company is thinking of ways to combat this loss of revenue for the month of March in 2020.

The closing of nonessential businesses has also forced Penn National to stop construction on two casino projects in Pennsylvania. The $110 million Hollywood Casino Morgantown and $120 million Hollywood Casino York were both slated to open by the end of 2020, but now their future is in question amidst work-stoppages related to Covid-19. After a record-breaking month in the stock market in February, Penn National has since seen an 80% drop in shares, dropping nearly 45% in a single day last Monday.

President and CEO of Penn National Gaming, Jay Snowden, has stated his support of Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf’s decision to close nonessential businesses in the state. Along the same lines, he recognizes that under these circumstances it is necessary for Penn National to do what they can to keep themselves from going under in dire circumstances.

Plan for Recovery

In the immediate future, Penn National is planning to fall back on a $430 million credit. It’s unclear how they plan to use this credit, and company officials have stated that the fluid circumstances of the ever-evolving pandemic make it difficult to determine exactly the best use for their existing funds. The immediate concern is the thousands of workers who are suddenly finding themselves without work, and the absence of millions of dollars in revenue for the foreseeable future.

The effects of these closures have impacted casinos and gaming companies throughout the country, as more and more businesses are forced into these unexpected closures. The entire industry has seen a 51.3% decline in stocks, as millions are left without work and millions of dollars in revenue is being lost. The American Gaming Association, who bears the responsibility of representing casinos throughout the country, has called for a stimulus package that could help save the industry. In a statement to the U.S. government, the AGA noted the obvious impact that the pandemic has had on these businesses.

Like many other people throughout the world, Penn National will have to wait and see what the future holds for their business and its employees, as the circumstances surrounding Covid-19 continue to evolve.

Last Friday, a woman in Newcastle Oklahoma claimed she won $8.5 million on a slot machine at the Newcastle Casino. Maribel Sanchez thought she hit the spin of a lifetime, but the only problem was that the casino denied the fact that she hit the jackpot. Newcastle Casino is claiming that Sanchez’s lucky spin is actually a result of a malfunctioning machine, not a true jackpot. Sanchez, of course, is furious and hopes that the casino will make right by paying her the jackpot she feels is rightfully hers.

Lucky Day?

Sanchez woke up Friday morning hoping to have some fun playing slots at Newcastle Casino, and it certainly seemed like that would be the case. After a few spins on the Liberty 7s slot machine, Sanchez hit the jackpot. According to reports, the machine started to act up before shutting off and going black. When it turned back on, it projected the last amount won: $8,469,498.95. Sanchez, allegedly, was able to snap a picture of the display on the machine showing her winnings.

The big win didn’t fail to catch the attention of casino officials, who have yet to pay out Sanchez’s jackpot. Sanchez has since sought legal counsel in hopes of pursuing her options for claiming her winnings.

Taking a Look at the Fine Print

Newcastle Casino is blaming a “malfunction” for the enormous jackpot, claiming that Sanchez didn’t win the prize. A jackpot of this size is unprecedented for the Lucky 7s machine at Newcastle Casino, and some questions were raised about whether or not a jackpot of this size is even possible, given the machine’s regulated odds and payouts. State laws generally offer specific regulations on what expected odds and payouts should be for each machine in a casino, ensuring that players are guaranteed a substantial chance at winning. These regulations mean that each machine should have set odds and payout rates, making it easy for the casino and state officials to identify any potential issues with the machine. Local media reached out to the casino to find out what the maximum payout for this machine was, but the casino offered no comment.

While the casino did not specify the maximum payout for the machine, they did offer some clarification about whether or not they felt the machine malfunctioned. Newcastle Casino made it clear that the game in question is a Class 2 game under state law. Class 2 games within the state determine a winner through a bingo pattern, unless a malfunction occurs. In this case, they feel that a malfunction did occur, thus voiding the payout. The casino plans to follow the appropriate legal procedures to handle Sanchez’s claim.

Malfunctioning Machines Throughout the US

Sanchez, unfortunately, is not the first person to fall victim to this type of scenario. In fact, Sanchez’s $8.5 million jackpot pales in comparison to the $43 million a woman claimed to have won in Queens, New York back in 2016. The woman took a selfie with the screen showing her total winnings, but the New York State Gaming Commission responded saying her machine malfunctioned. A spokesperson from the casino reported that the slot machine the woman was playing on only had a maximum payout of $6,500, and in the end the woman was only offered a steak dinner.

The slot machine in Newcastle Casino was one of three reported issues related to malfunctioning machines in the past week. In Louisiana, the Jena Choctaw Pines Casino had to shut down 300 of their 710 machines due to communication issues with the servers. Encore Boston Harbor also reported issues with their machines, related to their slot ticket system. Fortunately for the customers at Encore Boston Harbor, their jackpots were hand-paid, and the casino agreed to pay all winners.

Sanchez’s winnings still hang in the balance, but she and her lawyer continue to explore legal options, while Newcastle Casino continues to take a closer look at what caused the machine’s malfunction.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino of Atlantic City is claiming the title of world’s first live online slots, but what exactly does that mean? Over the years, slot machines have evolved from traditional lever-style machines, adding buttons to make gambling even simpler. Over time, new laws and the development of online casinos have made it even easier for gamblers to play on their computers or mobile devices. Hard Rock’s latest venture adds a new dimension to this type of slot play, offering players the option to bet on real-life slot machines without ever laying a hand on them.

The Old Dog’s New Trick

On Monday, Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino unveiled slot machines that operate within their building but are dedicated entirely to online gamblers. The 12 slot machines are the result of a collaboration between HardRockCasino.com and Softweave Ltd., an Israeli-based internet gaming company. The new project is said to be the first to offer live online slots anywhere in the world. The machines were introduced during a news conference on Monday morning, and gamblers were able to use the machines shortly after the announcement.

Joe Lupo, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino of Atlantic City, praised the new project as “ground-breaking” for the budding online gaming industry throughout the state of New Jersey. Additional online options, such as the new online slots, bridges the gap between online gamblers and the brick-and mortar casino, potentially enticing them to stop in and play in person. The new live slots also open the door for new players who may not be able to get to the casino in person but are hesitant to try online gambling.

The live online slot room is located directly across from the Fresh Harvest Buffet and has a wall with key-shaped windows to allow guests a view of the action. In the room there are 12 slot machines, including five popular games: Leprocoins; Buffalo; SpitFire Multipliers; Hotter than Blaze; and 3x4x4x Double Times Pay.

How Live Slots Work

Live slots operate similarly to online live dealer card games. The live slots are physical machines that exist within the casino that online gamblers can view through cameras positioned in front of the machines. Any players with a valid internet gambling account with Hard Rock can access the new machines through the casino’s online gambling website. As it stands, there are only 12 existing live online slot machines; if they are full, players must join a queue and wait for one to become available.

Other than the fact that players access the slots online, there are no differences between these machines and their casino-floor counterparts. The machines use a random number generator to produce the outcome of each wager. The new live online slot machines go through the same state gambling regulations that other machines go through, in order to ensure their integrity.

Why Live Slots?

Kresimir Spajic, senior vice president of online gaming at Hard Rock International, believes that the live online slots offer a smooth transition for players who may be reluctant to try online gaming. The physical machine offers them a familiar looking device that they can now play online. Another upside to the new live online slots is the fact that players can enjoy popular slot machines that were previously unavailable through online platforms, leaving players no reason to avoid trying the easily accessible live online slots.

Since New Jersey legalized online gaming in 2013, the state has rolled out a number of programs to entice new players. One successful example would be the implementation of live dealer card games, which give players the opportunity to play casino-style card games with a live dealer through the use of video and online gambling platforms. Spajic believes that live online slots are the next logical step for the online gaming industry, which he said has been “lacking innovation.”