This Week in Gambling

Great news, as Montana casinos reopen after the state lifted Coronavirus restrictions on casinos, restaurants and bars! Those establishments had been closed for seven weeks but were allowed to open their doors yesterday. That was the date identified by Governor Steve Bullock which would allow casinos to reopen while observing proper social-distancing. There are still limits on crowds and servers are wearing masks and gloves. And not all establishments reopened immediately, and some industry workers expressed concern that interacting with customers puts them at risk. Churches and retail shops in Montana opened last week as the stay-at-home order was lifted,…

As we inch slowly closer to the Las Vegas reopening, it’s apparent that things will not be “business as usual” when Vegas casinos open their doors. All sorts of Coronavirus protocols will be in place to prevent the spread of disease, and those changes will take some getting used to for casino players. Also, we discuss the effect that the pandemic has had for online gambling in America.     Hello players! J.Todd back with another week of gambling news. While we all wait for this damn pandemic to end so we can get back to our normal lives. Waiting…

888 Founder Killed… Young Son was With Him One of the co-founders of online gaming operator 888 Holdings, Shay Ben-Yitzhak, died this weekend in a small plane crash in Israel. He was 52. His 11-year-old son was with him on the plane, but thankfully he only sustained minor injuries. Local reports make no mention of anyone else on board, suggesting Ben-Yitzhak was piloting the aircraft. He was unconscious and was pronounced dead by medics at the scene. His son was conscious and airlifted to a local hospital in stable condition. Rescue teams said it was not immediately clear what caused…

No one knows when, but the Governor of Nevada will eventually issue his casino reopen plans for the state. And when that happens, MGM plans to swing open it’s doors at several of their casinos as part of a gradual relaunch. MGM’s CEO, Bill Hornbuckle, specifically said that they are looking at their New York-New York as the first casino reopen goal, because it’s the simplest to run. At the opposite end of that spectrum is Bellagio, the company’s flagship property . MGM also doesn’t plan to open all the restaurants at each hotel. Some will be open and there…

Atlantic City casinos are just as eager as Las Vegas to get up and running again. Now, the Casino Association of New Jersey are working with AtlantiCare on a comprehensive plan to reopen Atlantic City safely when the New Jersey stay-at-home order is ended. The plan is being developed by CANJ to assist the Governor Phil Murphy Administration and state regulators to create comprehensive reopening plans that prioritize the safety and well-being of employees, guests and the community at large. AtlantiCare will provide resources to assist and collaborate with CANJ in the weeks and months ahead. The health system will…

Get ready for the “New Vegas” when Las Vegas casinos reopen. The Nevada Gaming Control Board is looking at things such as restricting the number of people inside a casino at one time and temperature checks of guests. Control Board Chairwoman Sandra Morgan on Monday said admission restrictions are among the policies the three-member board is considering as the gaming industry prepares for reopening properties after being financially clobbered by closures brought upon by the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. The only time occupancy has been a concern in the past is during special events, such as a property opening,…