Here’s why Beau Rivage Casino is waiting to reopen until June 1
Just as the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino didn’t reopen until a year after Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi’s largest casino will open several days after the other 11 casinos in South Mississippi.
The others opened Thursday, May 21. The Beau Rivage will return June 1, after the sister resort Gold Strike Casino reopens on Memorial Day in Tunica in northern Mississippi.
“It really never was our goal to be quick to open,” said Travis Lunn, who became the president and chief operating officer of Beau Rivage in 2018. He recently was named president of MGM Resort International’s Southeast Group, with oversight of Beau Rivage and Gold Strike.
The Beau Rivage was one of the first casinos to begin closing as the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, and even before the Mississippi Gaming Commission gave the order that all casinos must close.
“The same holds true in reverse here,” he said, as the staff is trained and adjusts to the new procedures set by the Gaming Commission and the “Seven-Point Safety Plan” adopted by all MGM resorts.
Several of the Beau Rivage executives and department heads are at Gold Strike this weekend to observe and understand the new dynamics of the state regulations and how changes will affect Biloxi, he said.
Casino employees must wear masks on the job.
Customers will be required to wear masks, which will be provided for free if needed, in certain areas like salons, at the table games where physical barriers are not in place and in elevators when they are riding with guests outside those in their group.
“It’s going to be hard for them to be wearing masks,” Lunn said. Covering part of the face is completely foreign in a casino, but he said, “This is a new world and we’re all adapting to that.”
The goal is to make sure customers know safety is first in the minds of the staff and the company, Lunn said.
“We still want everyone to have fun,” he said.
Other changes at the Beau Rivage are:
▪ A new hand-washing station is being constructed at the main entrance to the casino, and hand sanitizer dispensers are being placed at more than 70 locations. “They’re everywhere,” Lunn said.
▪ Limited restaurants will be available. Stalla Italian restaurant, Terrace Café and Snacks will open. Lunn said the buffet won’t open at first as they continue to evaluate how it might operate and meet customer expectations.
▪ Hotel reservations are being accepted for dates beginning in June, and rooms will be deep-cleaned and sanitized.
▪ Lunn said he has high hopes the swimming pool can be reopen since there is plenty of space to spread out for social distancing.
▪ The spa and gym likely will remain closed for now. “Our hope is to bring these along as soon as we can,” he said.
▪ Live entertainment is still closed in Mississippi and the summer show “Funambula,” starring daredevil Bello Nock, has moved to next year.
▪ The sportsbook will not open June 1 since there’s not really any sports to bet on, Lunn said. Topgolf Swing Suite also will remain closed
Gold Strike will open the sportsbook on Monday, Lunn said, because there is a big demand for future bets in that area.
In Biloxi, the Beau Rivage and all the casinos missed the action of March Madness because of the coronavirus shutdown.
“We will open in time for the ‘Who-Dat’ Nation,” he said, when the New Orleans Saints and NFL start playing again.
