“Those who have visited since the casinos reopened say they were satisfied with the safety precautions in place,” Kening said.
Stockton’s Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) carried out the survey which included 806 players who had visited the DoAC website between the month of January and February.
42% out of the group stated they had visited Atlantic City casinos at least once since they reopened their doors in July. Out of this group, almost 80% gave positive remarks stating that they were either “very satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” with the safety precautions in place while carrying out their business on the Boardwalk.
Jane Bokunewicz, coordinator of LIGHT added that the survey results showed that visitors were eager to get back to the casinos as long as their safety is assured in the casino halls.
“The casinos and other dining and entertainment venues have done a good job implementing COVID-19 safety measures while also still providing the experiences visitors expect when they come to Atlantic City,” Bokunewicz said.
Atlantic City Casinos Recuperate
Last year was one of the most financially turbulent years for Atlantic City casinos and it will be a year never to forget for casino executives.
Atlantic City’s nine casinos had to shut their doors on March 16, 2020, due to the executive order of NJ Governor Phil Murphy. This came as a measure to help control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic which was hitting a record number of infections daily at the time.
Casinos were permitted to reopen on July 2, however, they had to operate with capacity restrictions. While most Atlantic City casinos reopened, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa decided to push forward their opening date to July 26.
To reopen, the casinos had to introduce health and safety protocols that were approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
While casinos quickly adapted to the environment and introduced Covid-19 protocols, they were still subjected to several other business restrictions that saw business revenue drop. One of the most notable was the restriction on indoor dining even with a 25% capacity.
Indoor dining later resumed in September though with more restrictions. Casinos also had to desist from serving beverages on the floor while curtailing meetings, conventions, and even live entertainment.
While there is no official info as to when most casino operations will return, some casinos still offer some live entertainment. Still, you shouldn’t expect headlining acts as these casinos are just recuperating from the after-effects of business restrictions.
The future, however, seems bright as the state has lifted some restrictions and eased others thanks to the Covid-19 vaccines which seem to be halting the spread of the virus.
But while the vaccines seem to provide real protection, casinos shouldn’t lay down their guards just yet and blow up the safety protocols that make gamblers feel safe within their walls.
“Even as restrictions are gradually lifted, and more people get a vaccine, the venues will still have to demonstrate that they are taking all necessary precautions to make visitors feel welcomed and safe,” Bokunewicz said.
A summary of the survey results has been made available on the LIGHT website.
