Pennsylvania regulators issue casino reopening protocols

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has publicly released a document shared with the Commonwealth’s casino operators outlining the minimum requirements required to be fulfilled prior to re-opening their facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As conditions throughout the Commonwealth improve and the reopening of casinos is authorized, the PGCB desires to assure that re-openings occur in a manner which promotes the safety of casino patrons and employees alike as well as assure an environment conducive to proper regulatory oversight," said Executive Director Kevin O’Toole.

O’Toole said these new operational requirements have been laid out by the PGCB based on best-practices guidelines along with the various plans authored by gaming companies operating in Pennsylvania.

"While these guidelines for casino operations will be subject to amendment as we move closer to a time of reopening, we believe this plan will be effective in mitigating and reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for all employees, patrons, and other guests," O’Toole added.

O’Toole acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt Pennsylvania’s casino industry an unexpected and unprecedented blow over the last few months, and the PGCB is committed to assisting each of Pennsylvania’s licensed casino operators and facilities to re-open in a safe and efficient manner. 

"We fully anticipate that we will work with the industry as it seeks to become, once again, an economic engine for Pennsylvania and to restore the first-rate entertainment facilities each of our licensees have developed," O’Toole concluded.

The ten-page guideline document is available here.