The Borgata is the top-earning casino and hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The MGM Resorts property, like every other casino in the United States, is dealing with the big challenge of how to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought the brick-and-mortar gaming industry to a shuddering halt.
Atlantic City casino have been shut down since March 16. While there is still no timetable for the casinos to reopen, MGM recently unveiled a “Seven-Point Safety Plan” for its domestic properties.
The MGM report, in association with healthcare experts, details plans to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, protect both guests and employees, and to respond quickly to possible new cases.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will need to give the go-ahead for Atlantic City casinos to reopen. However, Borgata will begin to take the necessary steps in the seven-point plan to ensure safety for its guests and employees.
The seven steps in the MGM plan are:
• Screening and temperature checks as well as safety training for employees.
• Masks and personal protection equipment (PPE) would be mandatory.
• Where possible, there would be a six-foot social distancing policy.
• Washing hands and heightened sanitation.
• Ensuring air quality of heating and cooling systems.
• Various protocols followed for incident response.
• Technology measures (digital innovation).
There would also be a self-screening protocol in place at Borgata Atlantic City for guests that visit during the summer. This means if someone has been exposed to COVID-19, it would be strongly recommended that they self-quarantine and avoid further travel in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
As stated in one of the points in the plan, it would be mandatory that all employees at MGM Resort properties wear an approved mask. In public areas of the MGM property, it would be recommended that guests also wear appropriate masks. If needed, Borgata would supply the masks.
Regarding technology, Borgata would come up with new options that would help guests avoid unnecessary contact with one another. An example of this would be limiting the number and length of queues.
Borgata Atlantic City is taking reservations starting for June 1, but there is no guarantee the property will be open by that time. Bill Hornbuckle, the acting CEO and president of MGM Resorts, recently stated that MGM has health and safety at the forefront of all it is doing in these trying times.
“Our properties will not look the way they used to for a while, and that’s not only OK, it’s critically important,” he said.
“We will continue providing the hospitality experiences we are known for, but we must do so safely. We will continue working with experts and following guidance from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and government officials and regulators as we evolve these protocols based on the latest information.”