Under the governor's orders, masks must be worn at all times, and no food or drink can be served inside, leaving casinos to come up with some creative options for guests. "When we got the executive order that we couldn't have indoor dining, we had to reset. Friday & Saturday: 9AM - 11PM, Exclusive for Gold, Platinum & NOIR MGM Rewards Members, Sunday - Thursday: 2PM - 9PM But the Borgata decided to wait. Friday & Saturday: 2PM - 11PM, Monday - Thursday: Closed On Tuesday, casino executives huddled in staff meetings, looking for more information and trying to decide whether it made sense to reopen at all. Add Pat's RSS feed to your feed reader In-room dining will be offered all day Saturday and Sunday, and from 4 p.m. to midnight on weekdays. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City reopened to the public on Sunday after being shut down for over four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees and guests will both be required to wear face coverings while in public spaces. Regrettably, due to the adjusted operations and overall impact of the pandemic on business, weve been forced to modify our staffing levels, Borgata President Melonie Johnson wrote. The Borgata casino will reopen on July 26, the last of Atlantic City's nine gambling resorts to resume operating amid the coronavirus outbreak. New president and COO Melonie Johnson, who previously worked at the resorts parent company, took over at the end of May. Phil Murphy. Starting this past Thursday, restaurants and bars in New Jersey had to stop indoor service between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. every night. Let us know. Indoor dining resumed in New Jersey in September after being shut down for nearly six months. Casinos were allowed to open in early July at 25% capacity. Limitations on gaming tables and slot machines. That caused casinos to scramble to make other plans, including setting up temporary outdoor quarters and offering grab-and-go bags that customers can eat outside or in their hotel rooms. Very empty. Workers and customers are being screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon entry and having their temperatures taken. Atlantic City Casinos Reopen in a Changed Coronavirus Pandemic World, Ready to Return, 4,000 Atlantic City Casino Workers Told No, New Jersey Bill Seeks to Ban Sale of Baby Wipes, Check Your Change! The casino has outdoor dining options including an outdoor beer garden; an area of food and beer trucks; poolside at The Water Club, an adjacent non-gambling hotel the Borgata owns; and an outdoor dining location for the casino's top-tier player's card members. For all other travellers, all COVID-19 travel restrictions for entry to Spain have been lifted, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. Vaccine and testing regulations: As of April 1, 2022, vaccination verification or a negative COVID-19 test is no longer required to attend indoor events with more than 1,000 people. Sunday - Thursday: 9AM - 8PM Located in Atlantic City, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has a number of amenities including a casino, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and a garden. Borgata spokesperson Liza Costandino said the leadership team felt comfortable reopening Sunday after a soft opening Thursday to guests on an invite-only basis. He said Monday that Health Department officials say indoor settings make it easier for the virus to spread compared with outdoors. Every seat at the tables is cleaned after each use. Regrettably, due to the adjusted operations and overall impact of the pandemic on business, weve been forced to modify our staffing levels, Johnson wrote in her letter to workers. Jane Bokunewicz, director of the Lloyd Levenson Institute at Stockton University, which studies the Atlantic City gambling industry, said the casinos have been making do with fewer workers "by operating lean. Bar seating is also now prohibited across the state. Do not to buy Raspberry Rally cookies from eBay, Girl Scouts say, Brian Laundrie was 'emotional bully,' Petito family lawsuit says, Pa. woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico. By joining this subscription program you authorize MGM Grand to send you automated marketing text message at the mobile number provided. She runs the pools and other amenities at the Borgata, and had her work cut out for her. Total gaming revenue dropped by nearly 70% in April and May, according to state figures, even though internet gaming revenue increased compared with the same time period last year. It's been very pleasant," said Bob Homans, who visited for the day from Baltimore with his wife, Mary. Twenty-five percent capacity. Borgata's classic Italian style, elevated. Hand sanitizer stations have been set up across the casino floor and staffers are conducting increased cleaning of hotel rooms and public spaces. Instead, it will wait until conditions are more favorable. BORGATA REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR GUESTS, EMPLOYEES AND THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF THE STATE. All rights reserved, the only one that did not to immediately reopen. sl@uLB\4&)+9)))5x'laajR's%(tHD hhPh`hhhhbX~1BqnZ2Dz?wmW`;[9:L>iF H10(vYW )S; K Medical and security personnel on staff will be able to assist should a guest develop symptoms while staying at one of our resorts. Message and data rates may apply. hbbd``b`+@, I|?A+x "E !`R$ (1$&F&7 " UC "A lot more people won't be returning to work," Allen added. The top-performing casino, the Borgata, almost immediately folded what it saw as a losing hand, announcing it was scrapping its reopening plans for the immediate future. The Borgata casino will reopen on July 26, the last of Atlantic City's nine gambling resorts to resume operating amid the coronavirus outbreak. No indoor drinking or dining. All rights reserved, Biden Proposes $1.6 Billion to Crack Down on COVID Relief Fraud, Savannah Guthrie Tests Positive for COVID-19 During Live TODAY Broadcast, New Jersey Bill Seeks to Ban Sale of Baby Wipes, Check Your Change! With this extension, we are also changing our earning year to January 1 December 31 from whats historically been October 1 September 30, extending your benefits an additional three months and moving to a calendar year thats easier to understand and track. Golden Nugget had the lowest occupancy rate at 64 percent. It also must stop serving beverages on the casino floor, which will remain open around the clock. Phil Murphy. Following the Governors directive to postpone indoor dining, we took a step back to reassess our reopening date to ensure we could give our guests the world-class experience they expect from us, safely, Melonie Johnson, the Borgata's president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. "They can sit down and relax, enjoy the pool, have some food and beverage and some great sunshine.". Borgata, like other casinos across the state, is operating at 25% capacity and enforcing strict COVID-19 health and safety guidelines that guests and employees must follow. For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below. Phil Murphy. Many casinos had planned to reopen Thursday, the first day the state will let them. Terms of Use The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its guidance on masks, allowing states to ease or outright remove certain COVID-19 restrictions. Borgata has been forced to shut down indoor dining service at its restaurants and bars between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. every night. You can watch the game on the big screen inside, but no food or drink. This May, it was less than $100 million. PhillyVoice Staff, New Jersey issues guidance allowing students to opt for all-remote learning this upcoming school year, Atilis Gym forced to shut down again after violating New Jerseys COVID-19 business restrictions, Mega Millions ticket worth $123 million sold in New Jersey, Phillies injury update: Andrew Painter has a tender elbow, Coworker charged with kidnapping, killing missing Sellersville man, Eli Lilly slashed insulin prices, starting a race to the bottom, NBC10 hires Fred Shropshire to replace Jim Rosenfield as weekday evening anchor, Developer proposes $150 million luxury hotel on Ocean City Boardwalk, Construction of Penn's Landing park over I-95 finally approved to begin, PennDOT says. In Atlantic City, where casinos were closed altogether for nearly four months, fortunes have varied. With masks on, and seats spaced out Borgata regulars were welcomed back to their favorite games. COVID-19 Help, Information. And alcohol will still be sold in liquor stores and non-casino businesses. We ask guests to stay at home if they have COVID-19 related symptoms or live with someone who has recently tested positive. The Resorts and Ocean casinos said they will reopen Thursday as planned. But even when Plousis compared the profit to the third quarter of 2019, the casinos still did almost 30 percent better this year than before the pandemic. Phil Murphy. McDevitt said 60% of his union members had been scheduled to return to work this week. "There's several options just in this area that people can use to enjoy," said Aarons. Laid-off workers will remain on the casino's health insurance plan through Dec. 31. Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey had a profit of nearly $5 million, up from $4.8 million, and Resorts Digital's profit was $3.8 million, down from $6 million in the third quarter last year. Easy to park. Casino president Melonie Johnson said the cuts were in response to limits that took effect Thursday night under which. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Each seat at the table is cleaned between guests.Read more MONICA HERNDON / Staff Photographer Above, a gambler playing a slot machine at Bally's casino in Atlantic City on June 23, 2021. Costandino said Johnson is the first Black woman to be the president of a casino in Atlantic City history. "The governor has not yet announced when the order will be lifted so, unfortunately, we dont know how long this may last and cannot fully assess any lasting impacts on our business levels., Full coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak and how it impacts you. Phil Murphy initially prohibited indoor dining. %%EOF Borgata management is also hoping sports fans will still place their bets at the sports book. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. Phil Murphy announced Monday, in a joint announcement with New York and Connecticut, the majority of the COVID restrictions on the state's dining industry would be rolled back on May 19 . Casino president Melonie Johnson said the cuts were in response to limits that took effect Thursday night under which indoor dining must halt from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Add Pat's RSS feed to your feed reader Wynn completes $1.7B sale, leaseback of . Regrettably, due to the adjusted operations and overall impact of the pandemic on business, weve been forced to modify our staffing levels, Johnson wrote in her letter to workers. The reopening started Thursday at the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This FAQ supplements the information on the Conseils aux voyageurs (Travel advice, in French only) section. "This is a 180-degree turnaround," he said. Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases. Atlantic City casinos more than doubled their gross operating profit in the third quarter of this year to over $310 million, compared with the same period a year ago, when coronavirus operating restrictions were in place, according to figures released on November 22, 2021, by New Jersey regulators. It worked so well that Nucky Johnson, the legendary politician and racketeer, built a Boardwalk empire immortalized on HBO nearly a century later. All rights reserved. No one's coming," said Bob McDevitt, president of a casino employees union. She said although the casino technically opened Sunday morning at 10, some guests were allowed in early to prevent a line from forming. "I was so excited to finally get the call. Have a news tip? Murphy said he reversed course on indoor dining because of the continuing outbreaks in parts of the country, even though New Jersey has seen a significant reduction in the number of its virus cases. For restaurants, tables may be. Murphy's order came as the coronavirus rate of infection and number of cases climbs higher in New Jersey and across the country. "Major League Baseball is opening and we're a week out from the NBA and the NHL. The bans will also reduce the number of laid-off workers who will return. When Borgata does reopen, guests and employees will need to follow strict COVID-19 protocols. Within minutes of Murphy's announcements, made in a news release issued shortly before 10 p.m. Monday, social media lit up with complaints. Follow Pat & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @Pat_Ralph | @thePhillyVoice Borgata is Committed to Safety In compliance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order, fully vaccinated guests are no longer required to wear masks. you are no longer required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. "This is like Catholic school: A handful of people misbehaves, and the entire class gets punished," McDevitt said. Patrons and employees are subject to temperature checks and must wear masks at all times. Some vowed to come anyway, mixing drinks in their rooms and bringing sandwiches for dinner. 695 0 obj <> endobj Poker and valet parking will not be available and operating hours could vary. Laid-off workers will remain on the casinos health insurance plan through Dec. 31. The Borgata and all of the other casinos are open but under serious restrictions. ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey -- Atlantic City tried Prohibition once before. Borgata, Atlantic Citys casino market leader and one of its largest employers, put its reopening plans on hold in late June. Casinos can offer outdoor dining, and those with beach bars, outdoor decks or Boardwalk seating still plan to offer it. The casino will host an invitation-only soft opening starting July 23, Borgata officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday, and will open its doors to everyone three days later. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. The measure also impacts clubs, lounges, and casinos. Full coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak and how it impacts you, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. It then set about increasing its outdoor dining options, and finally reached a point where it made sense financially to announce it would reopen. ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) Atlantic Citys top casino is laying off or cutting the hours of 422 workers in what it says is a direct reaction to strict new indoor dining limits imposed by Gov. 730 0 obj <>stream Find out when you can get your booster and where to get a vaccine or booster. The other eight Atlantic City casinos, which had been closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, reopened their doors earlier this month. Bob McDevitt, president of the main Atlantic City casino workers union, said he did not know of any other casino that had done layoffs since the limits were announced on Monday. 0 Most of the casinos paid for health coverage for laid-off workers through June 30. Stimulus and Business Updates, Share your coronavirus story with Eyewitness News, Stimulus check scams and other coronavirus hoaxes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus, Total count of NYC, Long Island COVID-19 cases based on patient address, Subway attack victim finds little comfort in NYPD's new crime stats, Male killed in police-involved shooting in Paterson, Deaths of 2 men drugged, beaten after night out ruled homicides. Gov. %PDF-1.5 % But that was before they knew they could not let their customers smoke, drink alcohol or anything else, or eat inside the casinos. Last updated on 26 August 2022 Phil Murphy landed like a one-two punch on Atlantic City's casino industry, already reeling from lost revenue during the pandemic, and making plans to creak back to life at the state-mandated 25% of normal capacity. To comply with the order, the casino is closing its restaurants each night at 10 p.m. Because food isn't allowed to be served inside, poolside dining became crucial, along with the addition of food and beverage trucks just outside the casino. However, because the casinos were still operating under COVID capacity restrictions, James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, told AP that the results are not comparable. Before You Travel Make sure to plan ahead: Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel. "No booze? Some amenities will be limited initially, but the casino said that it plans to open additional venues in the coming weeks and months. Borgata typically employs 5,000 to 6,000 people. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City reopened to the public on Sunday after being shut down for over four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks are being provided to those who dont have them. Each seat at the table is cleaned between guests. Our goal is certainly to avoid crowds, she said. Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City holds soft reopening, will open to public with restrictions on Sunday - 6abc Philadelphia BUSINESS Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa holds soft. RELATED: Trump calls off Florida component of Republican National Convention over COVID-19 concerns. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Some grumbled that the governor had sucked the fun out of the casino experience, even as a smaller number defended the decision on public health grounds. Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC, This Oct. 1, 2020, photo shows the exterior of the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, N.J. On Nov. 13, 2020, the Borgata laid off or reduced the hours of 422 workers in response to new restrictions on indoor dining imposed by New Jersey Gov. Smoking was still allowed. Travel requirements. The resort was initially planning to reopen. This 4-star resort offers a 24-hour front desk and an ATM. They have been permitted to operate at 25% of capacity since July 2. Among internet-only entities, Golden Nugget Online Gaming had a profit of just over $9 million, down from $9.4 million a year earlier. "Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19". Pat Ralph Tropicana's profit was $48 million, up from $18.2 million; Hard Rock had a $46 million profit, up from nearly $21 million; Harrah's had a profit of nearly $44 million, up from $19.3 million; and the Ocean casino had a $37 million profit, up from $24 million. Consent isn't required to purchase goods or services. Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Murphys administration has restricted casinos to operate at 25% capacity. RELATED: New COVID-19 relief bill: GOP set to unveil package 'next week'. Murphy's order came as the coronavirus rate of infection and number of cases climbs . Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press. "That does raise the question of the potential impact on future employment in the casinos, and if some currently unfilled jobs might ultimately be eliminated.". The Borgata did not give any information on the new eatery, saying details will be released "in the coming months." Atlantic City's casinos, and the restaurants inside them, have been operating at reduced capacity since reopening last summer amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While the state has not indicated yet when indoor dining could resume, Borgata decided to move forward with its reopening plans and began welcoming select guests back to the entertainment venue on Thursday. All rooms in the resort are fitted with a flat-screen TV and come with a private bathroom. Testing remains 'vital'. Guests who have not been fully vaccinated are encouraged to continue wearing a mask. But over the last several weeks, the casino developed a reopening plan sans indoor dining and drinking and created new outdoor dining establishments and spaces for guests to eat takeout food from the indoor eateries that reopened. State, tribal, local, and territorial governments may have travel restrictions in place. Phil Murphy allowed casinos to do so. Hard Rock, like the other eight casinos, had been making reopening plans that included smoking, drinking and indoor dining as integral. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa was the last of the Atlantic City casinos to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After May 19, New Jersey remaining restrictions will include: Six-foot social distancing and masks required inside businesses, including at bars and restaurants. Atlantic City's top casino is laying off or cutting the hours of 422 workers in what it says is a direct reaction to strict new indoor dining limits imposed by Gov. Saturday: 12PM - 12AM In the wake of New Jersey reimplementing restrictions on indoor dining service across the state, more than 400 employees at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City will be subject to a layoff or a reduction in hours. The Borgata casino will reopen on July 26, the last of Atlantic Citys nine gambling resorts to resume operating amid the coronavirus outbreak. But the Borgata decided not to reopen immediately under those conditions. Many casinos had planned to reopen Thursday, the first day the state will let them. Shutdown orders put into place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus presented a massive economic challenge for the casino industry in Atlantic City, which also drives millions to the state in tax revenue. Effective January 5 at 12:01 Eastern Time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require a negative COVID-19 test result, taken within two days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days, for all travelers, age two years and older, to the United States on flights originating from the In compliance with Governor Murphys Executive Order, fully vaccinated guests are no longer required to wear masks. Roughly 73 workers will be let go and approximately 349 employees will see their hours reduced, according to a letter sent to Borgata staffers that was obtained by the Associated Press. The states latest actions to curb indoor dining comes as coronavirus infections continue to rise. Bet With Your Head, Not Over It. 715 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<848B9324AF195B4BA98A9BA3268AEB40>]/Index[695 36]/Info 694 0 R/Length 95/Prev 187920/Root 696 0 R/Size 731/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Ocean Casino Resort and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino had the highest rates, with both over 96 percent. Its COVID-19 casino tracker counts 880 casinos currently open and 116 closed, including Philadelphia's Rivers Casino. Jim Allen, president of Hard Rock International, said that as of Tuesday morning, the company still planned to reopen its Atlantic City casino Thursday but that no final decision had been made. The Borgata sent a letter to workers Friday afternoon outlining the cuts. Drink servers and indoor restaurant workers were to comprise a significant portion of the force that had been envisioned. Borgata is navigating the pandemic and the economic downturn with new leadership. We are hopeful to return employees to work and increase hours when the executive order is lifted, operations expand and business demand returns, she wrote. This Oct. 1, 2020, photo shows the exterior of the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, N.J. On Nov. 13, 2020, the Borgata laid off or reduced the hours of 422 workers in response to new restrictions on indoor dining imposed by New Jersey Gov. Outdoor dining will be open as well, but due to the indoor dining ban, Borgata is offering takeout and in-room delivery services. Follow Pat & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @Pat_Ralph | @thePhillyVoice Phil Murphy said Monday, removing limits on outdoor gatherings and allowing stores, restaurants, theaters, and other businesses to operate at full capacity as long as they keep patrons six feet apart. It also tried banning smoking, too. There is a restaurant. The statewide death toll due to COVID-19 is 14,747 lab-confirmed fatalities. California Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information, California Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa swung open its doors to the public Sunday for the first time since March, becoming the last of Atlantic Citys nine casinos to reopen. Why would they?". But the last thing casinos want is their patrons leaving the premises, for any reason. She Was Just Found in Puerto Rico, Eagles Have a Shot to Land the Top Cornerback in 2023 Draft. The casino is laying off 73 workers and reducing the hours of 349 others. . The governor has not yet announced when the order will be lifted so, unfortunately, we dont know how long this may last and cannot fully assess any lasting impacts on our business levels.. She Was Just Found in Puerto Rico, Eagles Have a Shot to Land the Top Cornerback in 2023 Draft. Masks. The daily death toll has been in the single digits and teens in recent weeks, compared to the 25 to 45 deaths. 1 Borgata Way Casino president Melonie Johnson said the cuts were in response to limits that took effect Thursday night under which. But New Jersey will ban both, again, when Atlantic City's nine casinos reopen after more than three months of coronavirus-related shutdowns. Check Rates Compare Rooms Classic King Smoking 460 sq. That lasted for 20 days as smokers stayed away, sending casino revenue plummeting. To comply with the order, the casino is closing its restaurants each night at 10 p.m. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. In terms of hotel occupancy, Ocean had the highest average room price at $331, while Resorts had the least expensive at nearly $148. Some researchers think this is a step too far at . Check your destination's COVID-19 Community Level before traveling. Borgata reopened nearly a month after other casinos in July, when Gov. All rights reserved. endstream endobj 696 0 obj <. "When we reopen, Borgata will introduce new outdoor dining experiences, as well as a convenient takeout program from several of our fine and casual dining outlets. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Pa. Woman Went Missing in 1992 and Declared Dead. The Borgata sent a letter to workers Friday afternoon outlining the cuts. Get information on travel restrictions by country with our map. The current average incidence of infections in Spain over the last 14 days stood at 50.76 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The casino is also offering grab-and-go options at certain locations. Trump calls off Florida component of Republican National Convention over COVID-19 concern, New COVID-19 relief bill: GOP set to unveil package 'next week'. The casinos parent company said in a statement at the time that its guests expect a special experience when they come to our property and if we cannot provide that level of hospitality, we feel it best that we remain closed. Borgata faced a challenge in that it isnt located on the Boardwalk and so had fewer outdoor dining options than some of its competitors. Borgata now has hand washing stations on the casino floor, and plastic dividers between each player and the dealer at table games. Before the pandemic, Atlantic City had started to regain its groove, reclaiming its former spot at the nation's No. Check the entry, vaccination, COVID-19 testing, and quarantine requirements by country before planning your next trip. Barriers have been implemented where social distancing could be difficult to enforce, such as at many table games. Get Directions Three days earlier, the governor changed his mind and canceled permission for restaurants in the state to offer indoor dining, saying that the virus risk is still too great. Pat Ralph Ocean and Hard Rock had the highest occupancy rate for the quarter at more than 96 percent; Caesars was over 93 percent full. The state Department of Public Health recommends that venues check vaccination or test status for such "mega events." Phil Murphy said that the states latest number of COVID-19 infections was alarming and concerning.. Phil Murphy said that the state's latest. Have a news tip? Murphy ordered Atlantic City's casinos shut due to the virus on March 16. Bob McDevitt, president of the main Atlantic City casino workers' union, said he did not know of any other casino that had done layoffs since the limits were announced on Monday. Profits at Atlantic City's nine casinos more than doubled in the third quarter of this year after New Jersey lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions in May, the Associated Press reported.