In its recently updated Covid-19 operating guidelines, the Mississippi Gaming Commission stated masks and other health and safety protocols implemented in 2020 will remain in place at casinos statewide, even though Governor Tate Reeves lifted restrictions on businesses. However, the commission raised occupancy levels from 50 percent to 75 percent.
In Biloxi, Palace Casino Resort General Manager Keith Crosby said, “The bottom line is, nothing’s changed. That is the way we’re approaching it. We have added a few seats here and there where we can, where it just works. We’ve opened a couple more slot machines where it works. But not everything is open and we’re not going to fill all the slots where we could compromise social distancing.”
Also in Biloxi, Treasure Bay Casino and Resort President Susan Varnes said casino workers began putting out additional chairs the minute the gaming commission’s latest order took effect.
”It really leaves it up to the operators on how we do that. We really are supposed to maintain social distancing. We will keep a lot of things in place even though it’s not mandated,” Varnes said.
That includes limiting the number of slots that are turned on again and maintaining barriers between table games dealers and players, which has increased from three to four at the Palace and Treasure Bay. ”One table game may only hold seven spots but were only putting four chairs back. So we’re not going all the way back, although we could possibly do that,” she said.
Besides mask and occupancy rules, the commission extended its mandates on social distancing, signage, health questionnaires and sanitizing, among others in place since last year.
