COVID restrictions lifted from all MS casinos, including the mask mandate
The Mississippi Gaming Commission announced Thursday it is rescinding all of the coronavirus restrictions in place since March 4 for casinos across the state, including the requirement that employees and visitors must wear masks.
The order becomes effective at 5 p.m. Friday, April 30.
“All licensed operators shall continue to abide by any state and local rules or ordinances pertaining to COVID-19,” the order said.
Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi also has now lifted its mask mandate.
Under the guidelines in place since March 4, occupancy at Mississippi casinos was limited to 75% of the casino’s capacity. Everyone had to wear a mask while at indoor public areas, except while eating or drinking.
Casinos staff was expected to encourage social distancing between visitors and between staff, and post signs in public areas. A checklist of COVID-19 symptoms were posted at all casino entrances asking staff and visitors not to enter the property if they were sick.
The requirement that staff clean and disinfect high-frequency touch-point areas at least once every two hours is something casinos are likely to continue going forward during the pandemic.
“We do that anyway,” said Chett Harrison, general manager of Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi, “even before COVID. We want it to look crisp and clean everyday,” he said.
While casinos in some states are just getting reopened, Mississippi casinos were allowed to reopen on May 21, 2020 — two months after closing as the first coronavirus cases was identified in the state.
“Our state I think did it right,” Harrison said. “Took a period to pull back and see what this (the coronavirus) was.”
Not everyone will forego a mask now that they no longer required at casinos.
Those people at higher risk from the coronavirus will continue to do what is necessary to protect themselves, he said.
Now, he said, “Business is good and will continue to be for this summer. We just need employees,” he added, as casinos and many other businesses in South Mississippi struggle to find staff.
Lifting the restrictions comes as coronavirus cases remain down, with 161 cases and two deaths reported Thursday in Mississippi. But state epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers also said Wednesday the state is starting to see “minimal increases.”
The order also comes as casinos begin scheduling live entertainment. Queensrÿche is scheduled in June at Hard Rock Biloxi and comedian Ron White is scheduled in July at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi.
Harrison said Golden Nugget has a couple of events scheduled for this year, but it takes time to get them scheduled. They have had DJs provide entertainment at the casino, he said.
The restrictions also come in time for next week’s Southern Gaming Summit, which was canceled last year, and returns to the Beau Rivage May 4-6.
The expo will not be part of this year’s event, but the SGS will see the induction of Casino Magic Founder Marlin Torguson, former chairman of the Gaming Commission Jerry St. Pe, Penn National Gaming founder Peter Carlino and others into the 2021 Mississippi Casino Hall of Fame.
This story was originally published April 29, 2021 at 11:20 AM.
