Mississippi casinos now have green light for reopening. Here are the details.
Casinos in South Mississippi can start opening at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, the Gaming Commission confirmed Thursday afternoon.
Executive Director Allen Godfrey said a notice will be sent to casino operators Friday.
The opening comes the day before the Memorial Day Weekend begins.
Gov. Tate Reeves reportedly met online Thursday morning with casino officials to discuss the opening.
“No executive order was ever signed that shut down the casinos by the governor,” Reeves said at his Thursday afternoon press conference. He said it was a decision made with the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
If he were in the casino business in Mississippi, Reeves said, “I would go ahead and start planning now.” He said they should already be working to get ready for the reopening.
Casino operators said they hoped the announcement is soon, since they have to recall staff and make arrangements for food delivery.
“Give us the word and give us 3 to 4 days and we’ll be ready,” said Chett Harrison, general manager at Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi.
Many of the casino operators say they’ve been bringing on cleaning staff to sanitize and maintenance crews to make repairs and improvements as the shutdown ends.
Workers at Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville are in the process of building a new high-limits area right off the casino floor. Greg Bosarge, chief financial officer, says it will be ready soon after the casino reopens.
Scarlet Pearl typically has about 900 to 950 employees.
“Not all of them will come back at the same time,” Bosarge said, since not all the amenities and facilities will return immediately.
At Silver Slipper Casino in Hancock County, John Ferrucci said he is calling in deep-cleaners and administrative help to get the property ready for the reopening. Food and beverage employees are on standby, he said, to begin prep for the possible opening.
Casino operators said they anticipate there will be rules like employee masks, which before this have been as outlawed in casinos as they are in banks.
Now they await the reopening order and to see how eager the public is to return to the hotels, casinos and restaurants.
