October Sees Largest Jump In Atlantic City Casino COVID-19 Cases

• Over 1% of Atlantic City casino employees have tested positive for the Coronavirus since July.
• The biggest surge of cases occurred in October for casino personnel.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Coronavirus is alive and well within Atlantic City casinos, having 251 cases pop up since citywide reopenings in July. Of that number, 60% were from the month of October alone.

Many of the affected individuals are employees at these establishments from all areas of operation ranging from housekeeping to the head office. Each one of these cases has been reported to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) and occurred from July 2 through October 26.

Although 251 positive tests seem like a lot, it accounts for only 1% of all casino employees in Atlantic City meaning that COVID-19 protocols set by the casinos have been relatively effective.

Atlantic City COVID-19 Case Breakdown

The biggest number of cases as recorded by the NJDGE came from Harrah’s Resort with 36 positive tests.

Following Harrah’s was the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City with 34, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa with 20, Bally’s Atlantic City with 19, Ocean Casino Resort with 18, Caesars Atlantic City with 13, Golden Nugget Atlantic City with 13, Tropicana Atlantic City with 12 and Resorts Casino Hotel with 7.

Over 79 of these Coronavirus patients are employees at the bars and restaurants of the facilities.

The affected restaurants and bars were the Bobby Flay Steak and Borgata Casino Service Bar 3 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, the Casa Taco at the Tropicana Casino and Resort, Café Tazza at Harrah’s Resort, and the Chairman’s Club at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City. These occurrences within the bars and restaurants all took place in October.

Casinos Happy With A 1% Overall Number Of Cases

The wearing of face masks, limited capacities, air circulating systems, hand sanitizing stations, and health checks prior to entry are all measures being taken at every casino in Atlantic City. On top of that, there is a number of cleanings happening daily to keep high traffic spaces as germ-free as possible.

“The public safety measures implemented by casino operators — physical distancing, enhanced cleaning procedures, plexiglass and (personal protective equipment) — seem to be having an impact in protecting employees and guests,” said Jane F. Bokunewicz, coordinator of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism at Stockton University. “Despite receiving visitors from a number of different states, casinos were able to keep COVID-19 cases low this summer in keeping with equally low case rates in New Jersey and many of the other states that Atlantic City visitors hail from.”

These protocols will remain in place until further notice as they seem to be staving off the number of cases that could have been seen had they not been implemented in the first place.

New Jersey casino-goers should remain vigilant when gambling at the casinos and continue to follow the health safety guidelines set in place, including social distancing, for their own health and the safety of other patrons and staff.

“Our strict safety protocols, regulatory oversight, security measures, cleaning personnel, masks, social distancing efforts, and surveillance are working,” said Steve Callender, president of the CANJ and regional president of Caesars Entertainment Inc. “These are unprecedented times, which is why the industry has taken extraordinary measures to safely welcome back thousands of hardworking employees and valued guests, while also helping to minimize the exposure of Atlantic City casino property guests, our employees, and our local community to the COVID-19 virus.”

Online gaming platforms are available in New Jersey so gamblers have options. But, for those going to a land-based casino to enjoy casino games, those casinos are urging everyone to remain as safe as possible.