Gaming Americas Weekly roundup

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news!

All news are in one way or other influenced by COVID-19 lockdown. Many of the news have positive hues. Several gambling companies are in preparation for their reopening. Some have announced the dates for their “phased” reopening.

The re-opening would mean some unprecedented safety measures in casinos. Some of the gambling equipment manufacturers have come up with innovative Corona-specific products as well.

Then there are the financial results. As you would expect, most the the first quarter financial results were hit by the lock down and social distancing measures.

The following is a brief summary of top news happened in the North American gambling industry. Read on and get updated.

Casino Reopening

As the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and North Carolina begin to lay out a framework for easing restrictions relating to COVID-19, the casinos are looking forward to a return to operation. Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos is going to reopen its Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River in North Carolina on May 18.

In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson has permitted the casinos to reopen from May 18 with limited capacity. The casinos are in preparation for resuming the operations.

Safety Measures

Gaming companies are implementing health and safety measures in their properties in this pandemic situation. MGM Resorts released health and safety guidelines for its reopening.

The guidelines titled “Seven-Point Safety Plan” offers a multi-layered set of protocols and procedures designed in conjunction with medical and scientific experts to deter the spread of the virus, protect customers and employees and rapidly respond to potential new cases. The guidelines touch on virtually every aspect of casino operation and ensure healthy social distancing.

Many casinos have even redesigned their structures to offer greater distancing and provide more separation between players. Palace Casino Resort in Mississippi is an example for this.

The resort has redesigned its casino floor layout for social distancing. The spa and fitness centre will remain closed to avoid direct contact. Valet parking, room service and other hotel services will not be available when the property reopens.

Smith Rosen Gaming Partitions has launched a set of scratch-resistant slot machine partitions, which can clean themselves. The new innovation based on UVC-powered technology will help casinos to tame the spread of the corona virus as well as to satisfy the recent regulations and recommendations for social distancing. The specifically engineered slot machine partitions are proven to stop the proliferation of virus and bacteria in a casino environment.

Financial Reports

Some companies have announced their financial results this week. Eldorado Resorts announced their first quarter 2020 results. Eldorado reported a 25% decline in revenue during Q1 due to the Coronavirus crisis. Net revenue for Q1 was US$473.1 million. Eldorado also announced an operating loss of US$123.2million. The operating income in Q1 2019 was US$123.6million.

Twin River Worldwide Holdings also announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2020. The results are expectedly modest, as the casinos remained closed from mid-March.

Compliance

In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) amended its bylaws and suspended the membership of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and the Comanche Nation. The board and membership of OIGA voted to amend its bylaws and remove two tribal members from the organisation.

The amendment to the bylaws states: A member tribe found by a vote of the Board of conduct not in the best interest of the Association may be suspended for the remainder of the calendar year. Once the suspension has expired, the tribe may seek reinstatement of membership, which shall be voted on by the board.

But, the chairmen of Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation have defended these gambling compacts and urged the U.S. Department of the Interior to approve them. Both the chairmen outlined their positions in a ten-page legal memo sent to Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt.