Courtesy Saratoga Casino Hotel
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sept. 3 that casinos are able to reopen on Sept. 9 if they have enhanced air filtration systems and with capacity capped at 25 percent.
Masks and social distancing are required. There are no table games or beverage service on the gaming floor, state officials said.
Casinos in New York, many of which are regulated by the state, have been in the dark about when they would be allowed to reopen. New York took its time to make the announcement as health officials tracked what was happening at casinos that have reopened in other parts of the country.
Upstate’s four state-regulated casinos, including Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, and video lottery terminal parlors, such as Saratoga Casino Hotel, have been closed since mid-March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Officials said the closures have cost owners tens of millions in lost revenues, resulted in layoffs or furloughs of more than 4,100 people and deprived the state and localities of millions in tax revenue.
Across the country, 114 casinos remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic while 876 are open, according to a COVID-19 tracking map published by the American Gaming Association, a trade group in Washington.
Most casinos were proactive and had already installed new high-efficiency air filters similar to those Cuomo required at indoor malls.
In August, both the City of Saratoga Springs and the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors passed resolutions at their respective meetings in support of reopening Saratoga Casino Hotel. Each cited the support of the casino’s “safe bet” reopening plan and urged state authorities to give their fullest possible consideration to the reopening of the casino.
“We cannot underestimate the value that Saratoga Casino Hotel brings to the City of Saratoga Springs,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor, Meg Kelly. “They have been working diligently to establish and implement safety procedures that are in line with NYSDOH and CDC guidelines which ensures all patrons and staff are safe. I support the reduced capacity reopening of Saratoga Casino Hotel to get people back to work and for their patrons to safely resume normal activities in our community.”
The casino closed on March 16 following the state stay-at-home mandate. Over the last several months, Saratoga Casino Hotel developed a plan to implement physical modifications as well as policy and procedural changes to protect the health and safety of team members and guests.
The “safe bet” plan focuses on preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus through heightened standards in cleanliness and sanitation; installation of MERV 13 air filters; enforcing social distancing with the use of floor guides, plexiglass barriers and taking every other machine out of service; requiring masks at all times while on property except when seated in a restaurant; and conducting temperature checks and asking screening questions upon entry.
The casino is also prepared to provide contact tracing through the use of ID scanners if required by the state.
“I’m happy the county was able to support the reopening of the Saratoga Casino Hotel. After reviewing their “Safe Bet” plan I am convinced they can do it safely and securely,” said Matt Veitch, Saratoga County Supervisor, representing the City of Saratoga Springs
“We graciously thank our locally elected officials for their show of support in unanimously passing the resolution in favor of reopening the casino,” said Alex Tucker, Saratoga Casino Hotel general manager. “We appreciate the confidence that the Saratoga Springs City Council and the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors have that the casino can safely reopen as so many others have done across the country. Reopening the casino is vital to the local economy and will bring hundreds of team members back to work, while producing revenues to aid education, sustain harness racing beyond September, and will shore up the tax base of the city and county in these uncertain times.”
Saratoga Casino Hotel, located on Crescent Avenue in Saratoga Springs, NY, features slot machines, a 117-room luxury hotel, electronic table games, Vapor, Morton’s The Steakhouse, two full-service restaurants with buffets, a casual dining restaurant, three full-service bars, deli and a variety of guest services including valet parking and coat check.