Arkansas' three casinos to reopen May 18

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Thursday that the three casinos located in the state will be allowed to reopen on May 18, but with new capacity limits and guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“They have presented proposals as to how they can socially distance in that environment and they can manage the population there,” Hutchinson said.

The decision is the latest in a series of moves Hutchinson has taken to ease restrictions that temporarily closed businesses because of the pandemic, the Associated Press reports. Gyms, barbershops and hair salons were allowed to reopen this week, and restaurants can resume sit-down service on Monday. The casinos, which have been closed since March 17, are being allowed to open the same day as other large indoor venues, such as movie theaters and arenas.

Hutchinson said the casinos will face “stringent” social-distancing rules that were expected to be issued today. He didn’t say whether the requirements would restrict or prohibit certain types of games. Plans to reopen other Arkansas businesses have included mandated disinfecting of facilities and requiring at least 6 feet of distance between people.

 Efforts to reopen casinos elsewhere have prompted calls for more protections and gear for employees. Nevada regulators are requiring casinos there to regularly disinfect cards and chips, and to limit the number of players at tables.

“Our planning for reopening has been focused on a comprehensive program that features additional ways that we will help keep our guests and employees safe from COVID-19 and provide them peace of mind while they are in our facility,” Delaware North, the parent company of Southland Casino Racing, the West Memphis dog track, said in a statement. 

Carlton Saffa, project manager for Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, said the casino’s protocols will include requiring customers to wear masks and to show identification. The overall capacity for Saracen — a smaller annex that only offers slot machines and sports betting while a larger casino is under construction — is a little under 900 people.

“We want to be able to participate in contact tracing if there’s a request from the health department,” Saffa said.

The Economic Development Commission also said Thursday that it received more than $147 million in requests from businesses for grants to help comply with new coronavirus safety rules, nearly three times the amount the state has set aside for the program.

The commission said 12,233 businesses applied Tuesday and Wednesday for the $55 million Ready for Business grants the state set up using federal coronavirus relief money.