The two casinos in Maine could be back in business as early as this week. Officials in the state have worked out a safety plan that they hope will mitigate the possibility of another coronavirus epidemic, paving the way for Hollywood Casino and Oxford Casino to start welcoming gamblers. However, given how states like California, Nevada and Florida have seen a reappearance of COVID-19 after restrictions were lifted, Maine will have to be hypervigilant with its casino plans. 

Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck was involved in putting together the policies and procedures that will allow the state’s casinos to return to life. The plan, which included participation by a number of officials, will see casino capacity limited to only 200 people. That limit will be broken down even further, requiring the creation of “zones” inside the facilities that only allow a maximum of 50 people in each at any given moment. 

That dispersal should reduce the risk of the coronavirus coming back, but only time will tell. Sauschuck explains, “That was big change and a big move that really allowed the casinos to be viable. With a location that big it would be difficult if it was just 50 people.”

As has been established in other areas of the U.S., as well as other countries, anyone entering a casino – patron or employee – is required to wear a facemask and maintain six feet of separation at all table games and slot machines. If anyone isn’t willing to abide by the guidelines, they should be prepared to just stay at home, given the fact that visiting a casino is not a “right,” but a “privilege.”