Atlantic City casinos cleared to reopen July 2 at 25% capacity

Atlantic City casinos have been cleared to reopen their doors on July 2, but they face strict limits on how many guests will be allowed inside.

On Monday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted that AC’s casinos would be allowed to reopen to the public on Thursday, July 2, ending a three-and-a-half month closure due to COVID-19. The reopening will allow the casinos to take advantage of the crucial July 4th holiday weekend, although this year’s celebration promises far more muted than in previous years.

For one thing, the casinos will only be allowed to accept 25% of their normal capacity. That’s half the level that Nevada casinos enjoyed when they reopened earlier this month. On the other hand, it’s greater than the 15% capacity that Detroit’s three commercial casinos will be permitted when their reopening is announced.

Gov. Murphy promised that further details of the rules casinos must follow to reopen will be released “within the next several days” but did say that both casino staff and customers will be subject to “health screenings” and will also be required to wear masks. Murphy added that any “knuckleheads” who refuse to wear a mask will be “escorted out of the casino.”