While eight of the nine Atlantic City casinos reopened for the July 4 weekend, Borgata was the one that did not. However, the MGM Resorts property is scheduled to reopen on July 26 after a invite-only soft relaunch three days before, which will allow the Borgata staff ample time to sort out with any issues with the casino’s COVID-19 countermeasures.
In a recent press release, Borgata president and chief operating officer Melonie Johnson stated, “Following the governor’s directive to postpone indoor dining, we took a step back to reassess our reopening date to ensure we could give our guests the world-class experience they expect from us, safely. When we reopen, Borgata will introduce new outdoor dining experiences, as well as a convenient takeout program from several of our fine and casual dining outlets. We appreciate our guests’ and employees’ patience and understanding and look forward to welcoming them back.”
The restrictions will follow the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement’s COVID-19 guidelines put in place by Governor Phil Murphy. They include a smoking ban, no dining indoors, and a 25% fire code capacity limit.
All Borgata employees will be required to wear face masks, as is the case at all Atlantic City casinos. Guests will not be allowed to stand beside one another, while hundreds of slot machines will be disabled to create a suitable distance between active games. The casino floor will also have plexiglass barriers and hand-washing stations.
There will be online and phone check-in options for guests at both the Borgata and the Water Club. There will be no valet parking available and the surface parking lot is also closed, so guests will be limited to self-service parking.
The Borgata Race & Sports Book will reopen, but the poker room will remain closed for the first phase. Through BorgataEats there will be food delivery from the property as well as takeout service with no indoor dining options available.
The outdoor dining options that will be available from July 26 are:
• Borgata Beer Garden
• Sunbar at The Water Club
• Borgata Gardens
• Borgata Street Eats & Beer Trucks
To-go beverages and food will also be available at the Borgata Baking Company, Marketplace Eatery, and Starbucks. The outdoor pool at the Borgata will be opened, with limited seating for social distancing, while the indoor pool will be closed. Some of the retail shops will open on July 26 as well.