Detroit casinos could reopen as soon as next week

Detroit casinos are gearing up to welcome back patrons as phase 5 of Michigan's economic reopening plan amid the COVID-19 pandemic is coming up next week.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said earlier this month that she’d like to open businesses like gyms by the Fourth of July. Gyms, along with state-licensed casinos and movie theaters, are part of phase 5 of Michigan’s economic reopening plan.

MGM Grand Detroit Casino has protocols in place and is waiting for the green light from the governor, WXYZ Detroit reports.

 Employees and guests will have their temperature taken before entering the facility. Everyone will be required to wear masks inside; the casino is providing masks and gloves by request, the report said. Hand sanitizing and washing stations have been placed at entrances and on the gaming floor. Plexiglass barriers are in place, and some chairs have been removed to promote social distancing. Smoking will not be allowed indoors.

Staff will move through the casino to clean surfaces, the report said. The HVAC system circulates new air 14 times per hour.

Detroit’s casinos closed when Whitmer issued her first statewide stay-home order intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus on March 23. The casinos and attached hotels impacted are Greektown Casino, the MGM Grand Detroit Casino, and MotorCity Casino.

Whitmer lifted the stay-home order on June 1 but kept casinos and many other businesses closed. The Michigan Gaming Control Board issued casino reopening requirements on June 8.

Some of the significant temporary changes required by the state include:

• Capacity is limited to 15% of the established maximum capacity.
• Everyone must wear masks unless they are eating or drinking. The casinos are asked to provide protective masks to employees and patrons.
• The temperature of anyone entering the casino must be checked using a no-touch thermometer or thermal scanner.
• No poker rooms are allowed.
• No self-serve buffets or beverage stations, valet service or coat checks are allowed.
• Smoking is banned on the gaming floor.

Many of Michigan’s tribal casinos, including Firekeepers in Battle Creek, Soaring Eagle in Mount Pleasant and Turtle Creek in Williamsburg, have reopened with guidelines similar to those issued for the Detroit casinos.

It is unclear whether Whitmer’s previous intention to open more businesses by the Fourth of July holiday will hold as daily new coronavirus have begun to climb.

On Thursday, June 25, the highest daily number of new coronavirus cases since May 31 was reported when the Department of Health and Human Services announced 353 new cases and 19 new deaths since the day prior. That brought the state totals to 62,306 known cases and 5,887 deaths linked to the infectious respiratory illness.

Gyms in were slated to reopen on Thursday, June 25, against the governor’s wishes; a late-night appellate court ruling kept them closed. No opening date has been set. Whitmer allowed gyms in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula to open on June 10.