Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts announced Wednesday that it will reopen with limited capacity on Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. after being closed for six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upon re-opening, attendance will be capped at 25 percent capacity under regulations set by the New York State Gaming Commission. There will also be restrictions on food and beverage availability
YONKERS – Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts has suspended operations at its casino and harness track, Yonkers Raceway, with an anticipated reopening within 14 days. Empire City learned on Tuesday, March 10 that an employee of the Standardbred Owners Associations, the harness horsemen association, tested positive for COVID-19 before dying. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway is scheduled to open Sept. Others haven't announced an opening date. Del Lago in the Finger Lakes said it plans to open Wednesday, but had no immediate time.
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Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and president of MGM Resorts, said health and safety for Empire City’s patrons and employees is the top priority.
“This has been an unimaginably difficult and challenging time, and as we reopen our doors and welcome back team members and guests, we owe our gratitude to all health care and essential workers and those providing resources to the community,” Hornbuckle said. “It’s been several months since we were forced to close, so it is with strong emotion that we welcome our team members back to work. Health and safety remain our first priority, and our commitment to New York has never been stronger.”
ALBANY – Privately owned casinos in New York will be able to reopen their doors Sept. 9 after a lengthy COVID-19 shutdown that kept them closed since March 16. Andrew Cuomo announced the. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway is scheduled to open Sept. Others haven't announced an opening date. Del Lago in the Finger Lakes said it plans to open Wednesday, but had no immediate.
MGM Resorts’ comprehensive Seven-Point Safety Plan is a complex set of protocols and procedures designed in conjunction with medical and scientific experts to mitigate the spread of the virus, protect customers and employees and rapidly respond to potential new COVID-19 cases. As time passes, the company will continue to evaluate and evolve its safety protocols.
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Key initiatives from the plan and protocols specific to Empire City include:
- Employee screening, temperature checks and COVID-19 specific training
- Guest screening and temperature checks with limited casino entrance points
- Masks required in all areas for employees and guests (and provided free of charge)
- Physical distancing policy for all guests and employees
- Physical barriers installed in areas where distancing presents challenges
- Standalone handwashing stations designed by MGM Resorts and conveniently located on the casino floor
- Increased and enhanced routine cleaning based on CDC guidance, with electrostatic sprayers utilized in many large public areas to apply disinfectant efficiently
- Restaurant digital menus available to view on personal mobile devices via QR codes
- Virtual waiting lists for restaurant guests with text message notification when tables are ready
- MGM Resorts has compiled an internal team and processes to respond if a guest or employee tests positive for COVID-19. If a guest tests positive after visiting an MGM property, they are asked to alert the company through a special e-mail address ([email protected]). The company will immediately report any positive test results to the local health department.
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Here’s a glimpse at what guests can expect:
- Gaming: Empire City’s gaming floor of slots and electronic table games will be open. To promote physical distancing, numerous machines have been disabled and chairs have been removed.
- Dining: The Pub, Empire City Chophouse and The Big Kitchen international food court will be open for dining. Food and beverage are prohibited on the gaming floor.
- Bars and Beverage Service: In accordance with state guidelines, bars on the property will remain closed and beverage service on the casino floor is not permitted.
- Yonkers Raceway: Live racing resumed at Yonkers Raceway in June, and will continue to follow a revised racing schedulewithout spectators. State guidelines prohibit on-property wagering at this time.
- Property Entrance: Entrance to the property will be limited to the Yonkers Avenue entrance. The Central Avenue general parking entrance and Clark Street valet entrance will remain closed.
- Parking/Valet: Complementary self-parking will be available for guests; valet parking and shuttle service will not be operational at this time.
Hosted, invitation-only access will be available to certain MLife members ahead of Sept. 21. Ameristar casino kansas city concerts.
For a full list of offerings, visit empirecitycasino.com. Empire City will continue to work closely with medical experts and state officials to determine how to safely and appropriately offer more amenities and entertainment to guests when possible.
Video: Drone footage of Empire City Casino which was sold to MGM for $850 million
Empire City Casino will resume live racing operations without spectators at the Yonkers Raceway on Monday, three months after the coronavirus pandemic closed the facility.
With approval from the New York Gaming Commission, operations will restart with a three-night weekly schedule on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, the company said in a statement. Health and safety protocols such as distancing measures, temperature checks and health screenings will be implemented for workers.
© Tania Savayan/The Journal News Lohud sports reporter Nancy Haggerty learns to harness drive with driver Jim Marohn Jr. and Art History the horse at Yonkers Raceway Sept. 20, 2018.The venerable track has been closed since March, when the coronavirus started to spread throughout the state. Empire City would end up furloughing more than 900 employees, most of its workforce, due to the pandemic.
A spokesperson for Empire City could not say, when reached by The Journal News/lohud, how many furloughed employees will be able to return to work because of the restart of live racing operations.
With its 4,700 slot machines, Empire City, owned by MGM Resorts, is the largest private employer in Yonkers and is one of the largest gaming floors in the country. It brought in around $50 million in revenue in February.
In a May 5 letter to staff, acting MGM CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle called the furloughs “the most challenging period ever faced by our company and industry.”
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“Based on the current situation, we now believe that some of our colleagues may not return to work this year,' the letter said. Does gambling cause mental health issues. 'And, given the continued uncertainty facing our industry, we simply don’t know just how many employees will return to work within the coming months.”
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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Empire City to resume live racing at Yonkers Raceway on Monday