Two Maryland casinos set to reopen Friday, another to follow June 29

Rocky Gap Casino Resort will reopen much of its casino floor, its restaurants and its hotel to the public June 19, and Hollywood Casino in Perryville is also opening on that date. Maryland Live Casino & Hotel will reopen at 6 a.m. June 29 for the public, the company announced Monday. They are the first of Maryland’s six casinos to commit to a reopening date following Gov. Larry Hogan’s announcement that the state is lifting more restrictions, allowing casinos to enter Phase Two of reopening plans beginning next Friday.

Anne Arundel County, where Maryland Live Casino & Hotel is located, will allow casinos to reopen Friday, Executive Steuart Pittman announced last week. The casino will allow patrons to enter only by advanced online reservation due to limited capacity. It will implement a phased approach to reopening, beginning with a series of “Members Days” for its Live! Rewards Cardholders, from 5 p.m. Friday to June 28. Rewards Cardholders will also be required to make an advanced online reservation before admission.

All of the casino’s amenities, including slots and tables games, will reopen, while the spa and many bars and restaurants will remain closed. Patrons will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing, and they will have their temperature checked before admission. 

Employees will also be required to undergo temperature checks and wear masks. Increased cleaning and disinfecting, among other health guidelines, will be implemented. Partitions at game stations, automatic hand sanitizer dispensers and 6-foot distancing measures have already been installed as the casino prepared to reopen.

MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County has not said yet when it plans to reopen. Parent company MGM Resorts International has instituted a seven-point reopening plan for all its casinos, which includes temperature checks and mandatory personal protective equipment for employees as well as social-distancing requirements.

Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director Gordon Medenica said in a statement the state’s casinos will be limited to 25% to 50% of their normal capacity when they initially reopen, meaning it will likely be an untold stretch of time before capacity, revenue and state contributions return to what they once were.

Medenica did say in his statement his agency was confident the casinos would be “ready to operate safely and effectively” when they do reopen their doors. He also suggested patrons will see additional changes on casino floors, such as plexiglass shields and other safety measures to ensure social distancing.