Atlantic City Casinos Reopenings Advised by AtlantiCare Healthcare on Best Practices

Posted on: May 1, 2020, 12:05h. 

Last updated on: May 7, 2020, 07:47h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Atlantic City casinos are partnering with the AtlantiCare healthcare system to form best practices to allow the gaming resorts to reopen safely once permitted by the state.

Atlantic City casinos coronavirus
Atlantic City casinos are teaming with a regional healthcare system to put forward safety precautions to allow gambling to resume quickly. (Image: Kristin Gonyea/Press of Atlantic City)

The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) and AtlantiCare announced the collaboration on Thursday. Once the state begins to reopen after Gov. Phil Murphy (D) loosens restrictions on nonessential businesses, the partnership says it will have a plan in place to present the state with solutions as to how and why the nine casinos should be permitted to resume operations.

CANJ says AtlantiCare will advise the casinos on reopening protocols and best practices, and provide the gaming industry with regional health care data and forecasts. The goal, CANJ president Steve Callender says, is to have Atlantic City casinos ready to open as soon as possible following Murphy’s lifting of stay-at-home orders.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only threatened our health and safety, it has also threatened the stability of Atlantic City’s gaming and tourism industry, the industry’s workforce and families, and our state and local economies,” said Lori Herndon, CEO of AtlantiCare.

She added, “The Atlantic City gaming industry is a cornerstone of the entire South Jersey economy and reopening it safely at the right time, along with the rest of our shore and regional businesses, must be our shared priority.”

Atlantic City casinos have been shuttered since Murphy ordered them to close in mid-March.

AtlantiCare is based in Atlantic County and serves southeastern New Jersey. An integrated healthcare network, the company owns and operates the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, AtlantiCare Physician Group, and AtlantiCare Health Solutions.

Coronavirus Not Easing

New Jersey has 118,652 positive coronavirus test results, and 7,228 deaths.

Murphy this week released his six-point “Road Back” plan detailing how the state will begin to reopen its economy. The blueprint begins with first seeing a sustained reductions in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Unfortunately, the state on Thursday reported 460 new deaths – New Jersey’s highest single-day increase. In Atlantic County, 58 new positive coronavirus test results were reported over the past 24 hours, bringing the number of COVID-19 cases to 964, with 41 deaths.

New AC

Whenever Atlantic City does reopen, it will do so with numerous changes that will greatly overhaul the casino experience. Gaming executives across the country are working on safety measures.

A few leading suggestions include all gamblers and employees being required to wear face masks, plexiglass separating players at table games, required vacant seats between each slot machine, and body temperature checks prior to access.

Because of being closed for half of the month, March gross gaming revenue at the nine brick-and-mortar casinos totaled just $85.46 million – a 61.7 percent drop compared to March 2019. April land-based casino win will total $0.

Fortunately for Atlantic City casinos, the state allows the operators to offer online gambling. Along with New Jersey, only Pennsylvania and Delaware have internet casinos, while Nevada allows poker to be played online.