Wind Creek casinos in Alabama to reopen June 8 

After a shutdown that began more than two months ago, Wind Creek officials announced that the properties the Poarch Band of Creek Indians operates in Alabama will begin soft openings on Thursday, June 4, followed by general opening to the public on Monday, June 8. 

Operators of the three properties in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery, respectively, gave a preview Tuesday of how they’re adapting to coronavirus concerns.

"As Jay is fond of saying, we don’t want to have a plan to reopen," said Ken Rohman, Wind Creek Hospitality’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, referring to CEO Jay Dorris. "We want to have a plan to stay open."

The casinos are operating at reduced capacity: In the case of Wind Creek Atmore, that’s 901 people on the gaming floor or about a third of the normal maximum, AL.com reports. "Guests are strongly encouraged to take advantage of a new reservation system going online June 3, due to the occupancy limit," the casino advised.

Guests will get a temperature check at the door before checking in and will be required to wear masks. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own, but new ones will be available from a vending machine at the entrance for $1, with proceeds going to first responders.

On the floor, patrons will find the familiar banks of hundreds of electronic bingo machines. In some cases, machines are separated by clear plastic partitions; elsewhere you might find three chairs for a row of six machines.

Rohman said that in the interest of maintaining “choice of title,” operators have decided not to shut down machines. Leaving access to all the machines does raise the possibility that patrons can move chairs around to suit themselves, possibly leading to a loss of separation. Rohman said casino staff will be proactive about monitoring the situation. Clusters of up to four people will be allowed if those people came as a group, but otherwise staff will ask people to relocate and spread out.

It’s an active approach that will require manpower, but Rohman said that isn’t an issue. "We’re running with a third of the normal customers we’ve got, but we’ve got a hundred percent of the staff," he said.

Other changes include shutting down self-serve fixtures such as drink fountains, where attendants will now provide service. Wind Creek Atmore’s buffet, Taste, has switched to an all-you-can-eat table service model. The gaming floors will be run in four sessions per day, with deep cleaning between sessions. Attendants will clean each machine between guests.

Most Mississippi casinos were open for Memorial Day weekend and reported bigger receipts than the same weekend in 2019. That’s among the signs that lead Wind Creek operators to believe patrons are eager to get back on the floor.

"We’re grateful for them for showing that people are excited about coming back," Rohman said of developments in Mississippi.

Employees and patrons alike have signaled that they’re ready to return to something like normal. "They were champing at the bit," said Rohman. "It’s a close-knit community. Our players are here on a regular basis."

The tribe also operates properties in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Aruba and Curacao, in addition to racetracks in Alabama and Florida. Some of those properties have already reopened, while others are in the process of reopening.

Full details of COVID-19 safety protocols can be found at www.windcreekstandard.com.