New York Casinos Finally Reopen after Six-Month Hiatus

New York City malls and New York casinos have been granted clearance to restart operations, effective on Wednesday, September 9. All indoor properties will have to use enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols, as well as air filtration systems.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has tasked New York City mayor Bill de Blasio with working out a way for indoor dining venues to restart operations. Owners of restaurant businesses have been riling against the state’s decision to not reopen indoor dining venues, threatening a lawsuit.

In the meantime, Gov. Cuomo thanked New Yorkers for their patience and hard work in the fight against the coronavirus:

“While this pandemic is far from over, our numbers have remained steadily low, so we know our phased, data-driven approach to reopening is the right one. Thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers, we are at a point in our fight against this virus where we can safely reopen malls in New York City as long as they adhere to strict health and safety protocols.”

Casinos are allowed to operate at 25% capacity and they will have to follow specific safety measures. Gov. Cuomo added that the curve was flattened enough for gaming establishments to restart operations.

He also pointed out that all reopenings will have to comply with established safety protocols, including the aforementioned air filtration system and mandatory social distancing and wearing masks.

Bob DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East shared his excitement ahead of Wednesday, saying that casinos have been waiting for a long while to reintroduce operations.