"Following the Governor's 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," said Melonie Johnson, who serves as Borgatas President & Chief Operating Officer. She said although the casino technically opened Sunday morning at 10, some guests were allowed in early to prevent a line from forming. In compliance with Governor Murphys Executive Order, fully vaccinated guests are no longer required to wear masks. Let us know. %%EOF Venues such as Borgata reopened their doors for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic in July after being closed for four months. According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the casinos showed a collective gross operating profit of $310 million from July to September. Limitations on gaming tables and slot machines. Borgata, the citys casino market leader and one of its largest employers, put its reopening plans on hold in late June when Gov. In-room dining will be offered all day Saturday and Sunday, and from 4 p.m. to midnight on weekdays. Guests who have not been fully vaccinated are encouraged to continue wearing a mask. Borgata will also comply with thencurrent CDC, state and local guidelines that provide requirements for - 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. 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. But that was before they knew they could not let their customers smoke, drink alcohol or anything else, or eat inside the casinos. Before You Travel Make sure to plan ahead: Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel. 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. ", "So far it seems operators have been able to successfully balance the currently reduced labor supply with growing consumer demand for resort amenities including lodging," she said. Golden Nugget had the lowest occupancy rate at 64 percent. Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases. Our goal is certainly to avoid crowds, she said. All rights reserved. Twenty-five percent capacity. 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. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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 The reopening started Thursday at the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. "No booze? Children and young people. 730 0 obj <>stream Caesars had a $27.6 million profit, up from $17.5 million; Resorts had a $16.1 million profit, up from $7.7 million; and Golden Nugget had a $14.3 million profit, up from $7 million. "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.". Borgata is Committed to Safety In compliance with Governor Murphy's Executive Order, fully vaccinated guests are no longer required to wear masks. New Jersey will join New York and Connecticut in dropping many of its largest remaining coronavirus restrictions May 19, including removing fixed, percentage-based indoor capacity limits at . The Borgata was the only one to decide not to immediately reopen on July 2, the first day New Jersey Gov. 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. 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. . It then set about increasing its outdoor dining options, and finally reached a point where it made sense financially to announce it would reopen. 695 0 obj <> endobj Drink servers and indoor restaurant workers were to comprise a significant portion of the force that had been envisioned. This May, it was less than $100 million. Check your destination's COVID-19 Community Level before traveling. Among internet-only entities, Golden Nugget Online Gaming had a profit of just over $9 million, down from $9.4 million a year earlier. Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Bar seating is also now prohibited across the state. However, after the state postponed the resumption of indoor dining at limited capacity earlier this month, Borgata indefinitely paused its reopening plans. The late-night announcements from Gov. Their health insurance ends Wednesday, he added. The report also found that Atlantic City's casino occupancy rate this quarter was just over 81 percent. 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. It also tried banning smoking, too. Phil Murphy said that the state's latest. On Tuesday, casino executives huddled in staff meetings, looking for more information and trying to decide whether it made sense to reopen at all. 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 $150 million luxury hotel on Ocean City Boardwalk, Construction of Penn's Landing park over I-95 finally approved to begin, PennDOT says. Atlantic City's casinos made more money in the third quarter of 2021 than pre-pandemic in the third quarter of 2019. hbbd``b`+@, I|?A+x "E !`R$ (1$&F&7 " UC All rights reserved, the only one that did not to immediately reopen. "This is a 180-degree turnaround," he said. 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 says it plans to bring back about 40% of its staff when it reopens. Do. Hand sanitizer stations have been set up across the casino floor and staffers are conducting increased cleaning of hotel rooms and public spaces. Located in Atlantic City, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has a number of amenities including a casino, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and a garden. ft King Bed Max Guest 2 Borgata's classic Italian style, elevated. Many casinos had planned to reopen Thursday, the first day the state will let them. you are no longer required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. The daily death toll has been in the single digits and teens in recent weeks, compared to the 25 to 45 deaths. Each seat at the table is cleaned between guests.Read more MONICA HERNDON / Staff Photographer Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its guidance on masks, allowing states to ease or outright remove certain COVID-19 restrictions. The Borgata and all of the other casinos are open but under serious restrictions. We ask guests to stay at home if they have COVID-19 related symptoms or live with someone who has recently tested positive. Borgata management is also hoping sports fans will still place their bets at the sports book. Ocean and Hard Rock had the highest occupancy rate for the quarter at more than 96 percent; Caesars was over 93 percent full. Barriers have been implemented where social distancing could be difficult to enforce, such as at many table games. Social distancing is being enforced with floor markers reminding people to keep six feet apart. It worked so well that Nucky Johnson, the legendary politician and racketeer, built a Boardwalk empire immortalized on HBO nearly a century later. Hard Rock, like the other eight casinos, had been making reopening plans that included smoking, drinking and indoor dining as integral. But the indoor pool is currently closed. A significant portion of Atlantic City's casino customers comes from New York, which leads the nation in total virus cases. 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 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. Some said they were scrapping long-planned trips, and others said they would take their business to Pennsylvania casinos. Gov. Casino president Melonie Johnson said the cuts were in response to limits that took effect Thursday night under which. In Atlantic City, where casinos were closed altogether for nearly four months, fortunes have varied. Casinos can offer outdoor dining, and those with beach bars, outdoor decks or Boardwalk seating still plan to offer it. French people who are living abroad, travelling or returning from abroad, as well as visitors from abroad, will find answers below to frequently asked questions on COVID-19 measures. Phil Murphy. 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. The casino is laying off 73 workers and reducing the hours of 349 others. Privacy Policy Sunday - Thursday: 9AM - 8PM The Borgata casino will reopen on July 26, the last of Atlantic City's nine gambling resorts to resume operating amid the coronavirus outbreak. endstream endobj 696 0 obj <. "A lot more people won't be returning to work," Allen added. Costandino said the resort isnt disclosing how many of its employees have been brought back to work, but she said it isnt the entire workforce. Check the entry, vaccination, COVID-19 testing, and quarantine requirements by country before planning your next trip. All Rights Reserved. . Every seat at the tables is cleaned after each use. The statewide death toll due to COVID-19 is 14,747 lab-confirmed fatalities. 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. For restaurants, tables may be. The bans will also reduce the number of laid-off workers who will return. All Rights Reserved. "They can sit down and relax, enjoy the pool, have some food and beverage and some great sunshine.". requirements for physical distancing of patrons in all gaming areas, restrictions on the number of persons at gaming tables, and the limitations on the availability of slot machines. 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. 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. Because we wanted to make sure that whatever we produce for our guests for outdoor dining, it would represent our brand," said Melonie Johnson, Borgata's new President and Chief Operating Officer. Our Commitment Its our job to maintain social distance among both guests and employees.. 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. Borgata officials told The Associated Press on. Employees and guests are both required to wear face coverings while in public spaces. This 4-star resort offers a 24-hour front desk and an ATM. Medical and security personnel on staff will be able to assist should a guest develop symptoms while staying at one of our resorts. The Resorts and Ocean casinos said they will reopen Thursday as planned. Phil Murphy. RELATED: New COVID-19 relief bill: GOP set to unveil package 'next week'. Bally's posted a $2 million operating profit in the third quarter of this year, compared with a $13 million profit last year when it was still owned by Caesars Entertainment. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) -- The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, N.J. opened its doors to a small group of invite-only guests on Thursday. But with Borgata reopening its doors, all nine Atlantic City casinos are now operating. Borgata officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday it will host an invitation-only soft opening starting July 23, and will open its doors to everyone three days later. The Borgata had the highest operating profit at $57.2 million, up from $2.3 million a year earlier. "This is like Catholic school: A handful of people misbehaves, and the entire class gets punished," McDevitt said. Costandino said the reopening that was phased over several days was intended as a way to cut down on the potential for crowds. That lasted for 20 days as smokers stayed away, sending casino revenue plummeting. Check Rates Compare Rooms Classic King Smoking 460 sq. Borgata spokesperson Liza Costandino said the leadership team felt comfortable reopening Sunday after a soft opening Thursday to guests on an invite-only basis. The state Department of Public Health recommends that venues check vaccination or test status for such "mega events." Gross operating profit refers to the earnings before interest, taxes and other expenses. Smoking was still allowed. "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. Follow Pat & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @Pat_Ralph | @thePhillyVoice No indoor drinking or dining. Give us your digits; we'll give you all the insider deals and info. Before the pandemic, Atlantic City had started to regain its groove, reclaiming its former spot at the nation's No. For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below. Laid-off workers will remain on the casino's health insurance plan through Dec. 31. The resort was initially planning to reopen. "When we got the executive order that we couldn't have indoor dining, we had to reset. Easy to park. Gov. 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. Friday & Saturday: 2PM - 11PM, Monday - Thursday: Closed Pat Ralph Instead, it will wait. It also will also offer room service. She runs the pools and other amenities at the Borgata, and had her work cut out for her. Seems fair. To comply with the order, the casino is closing its restaurants each night at 10 p.m. In other words, more than half of the Spanish population - 26.2 million people - are living in a region where community transmission is widespread and . Sunday: 9AM - 4PM. 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. Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press. But New Jersey will ban both, again, when Atlantic City's nine casinos reopen after more than three months of coronavirus-related shutdowns. %PDF-1.5 % Add Pat's RSS feed to your feed reader Have a news tip? For now, certain amenities like salons and spas at Borgata remain closed. With masks on, and seats spaced out Borgata regulars were welcomed back to their favorite games. The resort was initially planning to reopen on July 6 after New Jersey approved casinos to resume operations across the state ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. But the Borgata decided to wait. New Jersey will lift many coronavirus restrictions later this month, Gov. Consent isn't required to purchase goods or services. endstream endobj startxref Each seat at the table is cleaned between guests. Nevada casinos reopened nearly a month earlier than those in New Jersey, with many of the same health protocols: temperatures checks for guests and workers, mandated masks after being optional for a time, and hand sanitizer stations. Poker and valet parking will not be available and operating hours could vary. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Phil Murphy allowed casinos to do so. But the last thing casinos want is their patrons leaving the premises, for any reason. Borgata reopened nearly a month after other casinos in July, when Gov. They have been permitted to operate at 25% of capacity since July 2. Testing remains 'vital'. Casino president Melonie Johnson said the cuts were in response to limits that took effect Thursday night under which. It initially was slated to resume in early July, but it was postponed indefinitely after COVID-19 cases spiked in other states that had reopened restaurants during the summer. 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. It's been very pleasant," said Bob Homans, who visited for the day from Baltimore with his wife, Mary. "I really don't even think they should open. And alcohol will still be sold in liquor stores and non-casino businesses. No one's coming," said Bob McDevitt, president of a casino employees union. 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. 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. 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. The casino is laying off 73 workers and reducing the hours of 349 others. Borgata now has hand washing stations on the casino floor, and plastic dividers between each player and the dealer at table games. McDevitt said 60% of his union members had been scheduled to return to work this week.