Pennsylvania Shuts Down Casinos, Baltimore Cuts Allowed Capacity to 25%

Article by : Helen Dec 29, 2020

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Updated: Feb 3, 2023

As the U.S. struggles with managing the third wave of coronavirus cases and keeping the situation under control, every state continues to toughen up the restrictions on businesses and locals alike in the hopes it’ll help slow down the spread of the virus and save lives in the process.

The two recent developments on that front – in Pennsylvania and Maryland – have probably left the casino operators reminiscing about the good old days. On December 12, Pennsylvania went into a full-fledged lockdown once more, shutting down all non-essential businesses – its 12 casinos included – until at least 8 a.m. on January 4 of the next year. So, there’ll be no profiting from the usual Christmas and New Year’s surge of casino visitors this year.

It’s no wonder Pennsylvania decided to go all-in on the COVID-19 mitigation measures: it’s number 8 among all the U.S. states based on the total confirmed coronavirus infections with its 509,320 cases as of December 15, with a 58.6% 14-day surge in daily new infections. Throughout the whole month of December, the state has reported more than seven thousand new cases per day, with the stats surpassing 10,000 on December 3.

It’s the virus that is dictating this. If we want to fight this virus, that’s what we’re going to have to deal with.

He said, adding that the situation is “frustrating” and “painful.” He tested positive for COVID-19 himself on December 9.

Of course, another shutdown is a nightmare for casino operators. Nine casino executives urged Gov. Wolf to keep casinos open at least in some capacity before he announced the statewide lockdown. In the joint letter addressed to the governor, they argued that “logistically, it is not feasible that we close our casinos’ doors within a few days’ notice. A casino is a massive business enterprise, and we are required to secure thousands of individual gaming devices; and move substantial sums of cash off-premises among other challenges.”

Even though it is expected to affect 18,000 employees, Gov. Wolf went through with the decision to shut down casinos. As for Baltimore (Maryland), things are a tiny bit better there: casinos are not forced to shut down yet. However, the Mayor of Baltimore City reduced their allowed capacity to 25% (it used to be 50%). They are also prohibited from serving food and drinks.

The new restrictions went into effect on December 11, and it’s unclear when the city’s businesses should expect them to be eased down. Considering that COVID-19 deaths in Baltimore City have risen by 243%, daily new infections are up by 98%, and hospitals are at 85% capacity, the casino operators are unlikely to start breathing easier any time soon.

Maryland overall is doing relatively fine in terms of combatting COVID-19. However, daily new cases in the state remain above 2,000 since mid-November – which is alarming to the state officials – and around 4% of the state’s population is reported to have been infected during the whole pandemic.

Prince George’s county in Maryland also toughened its COVID-19 restrictions starting December 16. MGM National Harbor casino in Oxon Hill will still keep its doors open to guests, but its allowed capacity was cut down to 25% as well. Finally, Anne Arundel county followed suit and also introduced a 25% cap for allowed casino capacity starting December 16. The measures are expected to stay in place until at least January 13.