8 of Atlantic City's famous casinos just reopened for the first time since March. These photos show just how different the casino experience is going to be after the pandemic.
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Joey HaddenJul 7, 2020, 00:34 IST
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Most casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, reopened last weekend after closing for three-and-a-half months to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Of the nine casinos in Atlantic City, five reopened last Thursday, including Hard Rock, Ocean, Resorts, Tropicana, and Golden Nugget.
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Three more casinos — Caesars, Bally's, and Harrah's — reopened the following day.
The reopenings came with coronavirus-era restrictions, like wearing face masks and limiting the casinos to 25% capacity.
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Some casino-goers wore gloves at the gambling spots to protect themselves.
New Jersey also required casinos to clean and disinfect all surfaces, per CDC recommendations, ahead of the reopenings. The casinos are not allowed to serve food or drinks indoors, and smoking is prohibited.
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Photos of the casinos on reopening weekend show what your next trip to Atlantic City might be like. Patrons entering Ocean Casino Resort are prompted to ask themselves if they feel any symptoms that have been linked to the coronavirus.
The casino installed protective barriers at the front desk ...
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... and between slot machines.
"I feel less at risk than in the supermarket," 71-year-old Virginia Hight, a patron told The New York Times.
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The casino's models wore glistening facemasks matching their costumes.
While only employees at Ocean Resort Casino had their temperatures checked, each patron entering the Hard Rock Casino had their temperature checked with thermal imaging monitors.
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These devices also recognize each face that passes through the system. This paired with surveillance cameras serve as a contact-tracing system.
At the Hard Rock Casino, 60% of employees were back to work this weekend, the parent company's chairman, James Allen, told the New York Times.
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Atlantic City's top casino on Trip Advisor, the Borgata, decided to remain closed because Gov. Philip Murphy extended his ban on indoor dining.