Ohio Casino News
CINCINNATI — When gamblers return to casinos on Friday, they’ll notice several new regulations in place.
All Ohio casinos must have specific hours for people who are more at risk of contracting COVID-19, and casinos can only operate at 50% capacity.
All Ohio casinos must have specific hours for people who are more at risk of contracting COVID-19, and casinos can only operate at 50% capacity. Ohio Casinos Post September Revenue Record, Gaming Win Totals $164M. Posted on: October 7, 2020, 03:18h. Last updated on: October 7, 2020, 04:35h. Ohio Casino Control Commission will oversee all sports betting and will charge the following: A 8% tax rate, a $100,000 license at casinos and race tracks, a $10,000 management fee and a $1,000 renewal fee. The two other major sportsbooks coming to Ohio when betting is legalized are BetMGM and PointsBet.
Some casinos are requiring masks, and others are not. At the future home of Hard Rock Casino, everyone has to wear a mask, and guests and employees have to get their temperatures checked upon entering. The casino will only operate at 20% capacity.
Ohio casinos reopen today! What’s new? Do you need a mask? We’re live with the scoop on GMTS. @WCPOpic.twitter.com/8wE7i4x5gB
— Ally Kraemer (@AllyKraemer) June 19, 2020Belterra Park in Anderson Township is recommending masks, but they are not required.
Thousands of slot machines are turned off in order to achieve social distancing, according to George Goldhoff, president of Hard Rock Cincinnati.
'We don't just have every other slot machine turned off, but we've ensured that our banking strategy ensures there's 6-foot distance between any two slot players,' Goldhoff said.
Belterra Park also has social distancing requirements in place.
Casinos with table games are limited, which means there are no poker tables. Craps and black jack tables will be limited to three to four players, and plexiglass barriers are in place to keep players separated from each other and the dealer.
Goldhoff said cleaning crews will be working around the clock to keep high-touch areas like screens, buttons, chips and cards sanitized.
'One of the items we're using is called an electrostatic atomizer, which sprays very fine mist and wherever that mist lands, it disinfects that surface. So you can cover a large square footage of the casino in a very short period of time,” he said.
But some regulations at gaming facilities have been lifted. At Belterra Park, guests will be able to watch racing, according to vice president of marketing Blair Bendel.
'Guests will be able to watch racing both inside in our OTB and outside, so we've been approved to allow spectators to watch racing,” Bendel said.
Belterra Park will close for several hours each night for deep cleaning. Hard Rock will remain open as crews clean.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's office says its ban on public gatherings to protect the public for the outbreak of the new coronavirus doesn't include an exemption for casinos.
This contradicts reassurances by Jack Casino Cincinnati that it will remain open for business for the time being.
Earlier Thursday, DeWine's office announced a ban on 'public gatherings' of more than 100 people until a current state of emergency is rescinded or modified.
The order bans events that bring 'together 100 or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater, or any other confined indoor or outdoor space.' DeWine's office said it specifically includes parades, fairs, and festivals.
© Provided A rendering of Hard Rock's plan to put its name on Cincinnati's Jack Casino.Exempted are: 'normal operations of airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, or other spaces where 100 or more persons may be in transit.'
Also exempted are: 'typical office environments, schools, restaurants, factories, or retail/grocery stores where large numbers of people are present, but it is unusual for them to be within arm’s length of one another.'
But casinos, including regular gambling floor operations, are not exempted, said Dan Tierney, a spokesman for the governor.
'The order does not exclude casinos,' Tierney told The Enquirer. He added the casino industry has requested 'clarity' on the order, but so far DeWine's office hasn't signed off on waiving the ban for gambling destinations.
This contradicted the impression left by officials with Jack Casino (which is planning to change its name to Hard Rock Cincinnati following an acquisition of the property by the Florida-based gambling company), which indicated they were remaining open for business.
'Our highest priority is always the health and safety of our team members and guests,' casino officials said in a statement.
Casino officials said they had stepped up regular cleaning throughout the casino to keep customers and employees healthy. They were also making hand sanitizer readily available for all.
'We support the Governor’s leadership and are following the Executive Order set forth by the Director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and its definition of 'mass gatherings,'” the casino said, adding they interpreted the order to ban special events as gatherings. But the casino stated it believed 'normal operations' were exempted.
Tierney said 'No.' DeWine's office indicated local law enforcement could shut the place down if they deemed it in violation of the gathering ban.
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Casino officials said late Thursday night they believed they were in compliance with the order, though it doesn't include casinos as being specifically exempted. They said they would comply with any orders by DeWine's office.
'We feel our building is no different than a retail shopping mall as per the language used to clarify mass gatherings outlined in the executive order,' a casino spokeswoman said.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Coronavirus: Ohio casino stays open; DeWine's office says 'maybe not'