Borgata Announces July 26 Reopening, Last Atlantic City Casino to Welcome Back Guests

Posted on: July 14, 2020, 08:27h. 

Last updated on: July 14, 2020, 10:31h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More

Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

After 132 days of being closed, Borgata will reopen to the general public on July 26.

The MGM Resorts property in the Marina District is the last Atlantic City casino to welcome back guests. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) ordered the gaming venues to temporarily suspend their operations on March 16, but lifted the directive effective July 2.

“Our guests expect a special experience when they come to our property,” a Borgata statement explained in early June. “If we cannot provide that level of hospitality, we feel it’s best that we remain closed until such time that the governor lets us know it is safe to offer food and beverage.”

But with Murphy in no rush to resume indoor dining and drinking, Borgata is apparently moving forward with reopening Atlantic City’s top gaming revenue property. Borgata will hold an invitation-only “soft opening” beginning July 23, and welcome the general public back three days later.

AC on Pause

For the first time since May, no coronavirus restrictions are being lifted by the governor this week. It might be some time until additional businesses and/or activities are allowed to resume.

“We’re not going to be jumping the gun on a whole lot more opening up steps right now,” Murphy declared during a recent COVID-19 briefing. “We’re here right now. My guess is we’re going to be here a bit.”

Since states began allowing American life to start getting back to some sense of normal, the country has seen an uptick in the number of coronavirus cases. That can partially be credited to increased testing, but it nonetheless has governors on high alert.

On Good Morning America today, Murphy said he’s “very concerned” with the rise in COVID-19 cases in other states.

We’ve lived through hell. We’ve lost over 13,000 confirmed fatalities to COVID-19 in our state, and over 15,000 if you include probable deaths,” Murphy stated.

With indoor dining seemingly suspended for the foreseeable future, Borgata is preparing its outdoor beer and food truck garden to adhere to social distancing protocols. The casino will also serve food and beverage poolside at The Water Club, and top M life Rewards loyalty members will have access to an outdoor dining area.

MGM Resorts says about 40 percent of Borgata’s pre-coronavirus staff will initially be called back.

Top Dog Returns

Borgata is by far the top brick-and-mortar gross gaming revenue (GGR) earner in Atlantic City, the floor winning more than $709.5 million from gamblers in 2019.

Borgata also sold the most hotel rooms in 2019 (822,046 occupied nights), and charged the highest nightly rate ($171.73).