CLEAN CASINOS: WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR NEXT VISIT

from Southern Gaming and Destinations - July 2020

Casino Directory

Photo Courtesy of Ryan Pensotes / Shutterstock

by Brandi Marcene

We all are aware of the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak and how it is disrupting different industries across the world –casinos are no exception. This virus can easily spread from one person to another; hence, people staying at home and following the safety protocols to flatten the curve. However, since a vaccine is yet to come, people are slowly going about their day as they would but not entirely in the same way. As the government announced to ease the restrictions and lift the lockdown in some places, many businesses and ventures decided to reopen, including casinos. But are the guests ready to play the gamble? Are the casinos prepared to protect their guests and employees? Wondering what to expect on your next visit to a casino, and is it safe? Are they following the precautions? Don’t worry as we are going to cover everything you need to know about how the casinos are running during the pandemic and what protocols they are following.

Casino Have to be Precautious about Cleaning Amidst COVID-19

These are unprecedented times and call for extraordinary measures. What we know so far is that the virus can transmit from one person to another person. You can also contract the virus by touching contaminated objects and surfaces, so it is necessary to keep everything clean. Doctors and specialists who are looking into the virus are reminding everyone about how important cleaning is. Constant and regular disinfection of the place is quite important, and the staff should be using the right equipment. No casino wants its guests to get infected by the disease due to other infected guests or some contaminated chips, cards, or slots –it will not be less than a nightmare! Therefore, they need to follow the precautions to ensure the guests’ safety. Casinos are doing everything they can to maintain the highest safety standards and prevent the virus from spreading within the casino. The good thing is that Casinos in Southern and Midwest United States understand that following the protocols will allow them to welcome all the gaming lovers out there. However, if they do not follow the protocols, they may have to close their doors again for the guests until further notice. The government is monitoring all businesses and other ventures that are resuming their operations. This is to check whether the businesses are taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of everyone. Hence, casinos need to continue following safety protocols and be cautious about cleaning amidst COVID-19.

What Cleaning Protocol Casino Managers Need to Follow

How do managers promise safety for the guests during this virus? Well, they have kept their main focus on three concerns that are very important to address. • How can they control and prevent the risk of infection in the facility, which could be brought in by the guests or even staff? • How to ensure that all the employees working at the casino are free from the infection and how they can reduce the chance of infecting others. • How to establish certain policies and procedures that would assist the casinos in creating a safe environment. Now the question is, how are they going to address these three concerns? Well, they are turning the casinos into hospitals (not literally). Yes, that’s right; next time you head into a casino, you’ll notice thermal screeners at all entry points for checking the guests’ temperature. High temperature could be indication symptom of the virus, so guests with a high temperature would have to head back home. Wearing masks is now a pre-requisite for entering casinos, especially in settings where social distancing is difficult to follow, such as elevators. If a guest doesn’t have one, managers must ensure to keep extra masks for guests and employees. Managers are making sure that sanitizers are always available at every station so that the guests can use it before and after the game. For instance, MGM Resorts in Mississippi has installed handwashing stations on casino floors. Besides, many casinos have taken a step further in ensuring safety for the guests, and they are employing emergency medical technicians in their facilities. Managers of the casinos are focusing on how to prioritize the protection of the guests and staff to prevent any COVID cases and spread of the virus in the casino. Managers are collaborating with health officials and experts to develop a better understanding of how to prevent infections. With the help of these health officials, they can set protocols that will assist in delivering a safe environment for guests and staff. Managers have already implemented a “no self-service” rule, and some casinos are introducing digital menus. Guests can view the menu on their mobile devices via QR codes; plus, the team members will serve the food with extra care. Furthermore, plexiglass will help in creating a barrier between the guests for safety purposes. Casino managers are already taking measures; however, they must make sure to continue following the protocols.

**Las Vegas casinos have put safety measures in place to keep guests and employees safe.**
Photo courtesy of: f11photo / Shutterstock.

The Protection of Staff and Guests is a Priority

Well, not only do the managers need to ensure the safety of the guests but also the staff. Since the staff is responsible for all the necessary cleaning around the place, managers need to educate them on how to maintain personal hygiene and keep the environment clean. If any of the staff tests positive for the virus, it could lead to the closure of the casino until further testing of all the staff. Thus, casinos must ensure to screen each staff member and check their temperature. Also, all staff must wear gloves and sanitize their hands throughout the day. Managers will provide the staff with the right equipment and gear to cleanse the casino area, including the chips, cards, tables, chairs, and anything else that the guests might come into contact with. The staff should know to get rid of the equipment used during the cleansing process. They must know how to dispose of the used equipment such as gloves and scrubs, and whether they can reuse it after a wash or not.

Staff Needs to Be Aware of the General COVID-19 Information

Yes, the staff needs to know everything related to the virus to reduce the risk. Many people are aware of how the disease can transmit from one person to another. However, some people lack the knowledge of how to identify whether they have the infection. Thus, educating the staff on the symptoms of the virus can prevent workers from coming to the casino when they identify any of the following symptoms:

• Fever • Dry Coughs • Feeling tired constantly Besides, the staff needs to be aware of keeping the distance between each other and the guests, as the doctors and other experts have advised keeping a physical distance of approximately six feet. Educating the cleaners and guestroom attendants would help follow the necessary protocols for preventing the virus from spreading as it is an unpredictable disease. The staff must also wear masks and sanitize their hands before and after coming into contact with anything. Other basic information the staff must be aware of includes:

• Not to shake hands • Not touch eyes, mouth, or face in any circumstance, especially while at work

From Chips to Slot Machines: Adoption of Cleaning Measures

We have mentioned how the managers are focusing on keeping everything clean to prevent any infections from growing within the casino. However, the real question is, how are they cleaning everything? Well, if we talk about the chips, none of us know how many people come into contact with these chips. People change tables as they change games and use different chips. It will be hard to keep sanitizing them before the chips exchange hands. However, the casinos are ensuring to use a more appropriate cleansing process to clean the chips. There are many companies that clean chips for various casinos, but they have been quite busy since the outbreak of the virus. The reason for this is because they use an ultrasonic process which disinfects the chips effectively. Other than this, casinos are making sure everything goes through cleansing with anti-bacterial spray, wipes, and other components that may help in killing any germs developed. Casinos are taking proper safety measures for screening guests and reducing the risk of the virus. Guests who are still at home, wondering whether it is safe or not to join the other gamers at the casino, need not worry anymore.

What Else? Possible Challenges Casino May have to Face

Taking the extra step to keep the casino’s environment safe is highly important if casinos want to continue normal operation. Casinos will definitely face some challenges,

but they have to deal with the situation smartly to continue the business. They may have to face some financial challenges, as the operations have not resumed fully, a drop in the revenue generation is inevitable. Plus, casinos will have to spend a big portion of their earnings on maintaining safety protocols. The cost of cleansing isn’t cheap, and we do not know how long casinos will have to follow these practices.

The Eventual Reopening of ALL Casinos: What Will it Look Like?

Well, we can see many casinos are taking the necessary steps to reopen. Casinos in Las Vegas, Arizona, and Atlantic City have announced resuming the business. Of course, they have taken all the steps needed to ensure the safety of the people in the casinos. Many of the casinos that have recently reopened are focusing on the essentials to keep the environment clean. Hence, the guests and staff are feeling more secure to avoid the risk of infections. Therefore, it is highly likely to see many of the casinos to reopen soon gradually. Now, the question is, what would they all look like? Well, probably the same while also giving some hospital vibes. You’re going to come across sanitizer stations, temperature checkups, and no more bars. If you need anything, you might have to use a device that allows you to maintain an appropriate distance and get what you want. And yes, no more self-service at casinos! The whole outlook of the casinos would remain the same, but you can imagine with all that cleansing and disinfection, guests and staff will need some time to adjust to the new setting.

Guidance to Guests is Essential

Casinos must guide and inform the guests about the protocols beforehand. Many casinos have established websites where regular guests can find any information regarding their favorite casino. Many casinos are marking the reopening date on their websites and informing the gamers about how they will be following the right protocols.

Other than this, the guests should know about how they can enjoy their time at the casino while also protecting themselves and others. Inform the guests to wear masks and gloves to prevent any infection from growing inside the casino; it is the basic safety protocol.