Parx Casino, Philadelphia’s largest casino and racetrack, has opened a new mini-casino in Shippensburg. The 73,000-square-foot property is located in a former Lowe’s store and is owned by Greenwood Racing Inc.

Parx also announced a new COVID policy that applies to its slot machines, tables and restaurant. It requires all guests to wear masks at all times.

Vaccination Requirements

Like most businesses, Philadelphia casinos will soon be required to verify COVID-19 vaccination status on entrance. This requirement is the latest step in a city order that all indoor gatherings – including the casinos and hotels – be held only with fully inoculated people.

According to the city, the new regulations will take effect January 3 for any indoor establishment serving food or drink that’s located in the city limits. This includes restaurants, food courts, markets, airports and other similar venues that sell or serve food and drinks to patrons on site.

The city is also requiring that guests seeking entry to live casino properties Rivers Casino and Live! Casino Hotel show proof of a negative COVID-19 test conducted within the past 24 hours.

The requirements are in place for all customers and staff, so it is important to develop a plan to ensure that everyone who enters your establishment is masked at all times when indoors. Create signage and communicate this information in advance so that patrons are prepared to enter your establishment.

Mask Requirements

In the name of safety, Philadelphia is reinstating its mask requirement for casino goers and workers. The city is also sending health inspectors out to make sure the casinos are complying with the rules.

In short, the most important thing to know is that all patrons must wear a full-face mask when inside unless they provide proof of vaccination. This is a major improvement over the previous mandate and it will likely prove to be a challenge for some businesses, but it’s not impossible.

A few companies have embraced the new requirement. One is Parx Casino in Bensalem, which has a full face mask program in place for customers. They also have a nifty temperature-taking device that will detect when a guest’s body temperature is over 100.4 degrees. The company is also providing a couple of different kinds of gloves. The best part? They’ll be on the job for the next week or so, ensuring that customers and employees are wearing their masks.

Entry Requirements

Parx Casino Shippensburg is a Category 4 “mini-casino” development located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The facility is scheduled to open in February 2023.

The property will feature 500 slot machines and 48 electronic table game positions along with a 100-seat restaurant and sports bar. It will also feature self-service sports betting kiosks.

A total of seven casinos have been authorized by Pennsylvania through its gaming expansion package. These mini-casinos will be able to operate on a limited basis while following strict guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Guests entering the casino will be screened for coronavirus and required to wear face masks or gloves. They will also be asked to complete a questionnaire and be subjected to temperature checks using contactless thermal cameras or infrared thermometers.

During operation hours, entry to the casino will be limited to certain doors and if capacity limits are reached guests will be escorted out in a socially-distanced queue. The casino will follow strict cleaning procedures and health screenings in accordance with government guidance.

Cleaning Requirements

In addition to the mandatory face masks and hand sanitizer dispensers, Parx is also implementing new cleaning technologies. Among other things, the casino is using Plexiglass barriers between machines, a sanitizer station on every floor and sanitizing wipes for gamblers to use before they touch the slot machines.

According to Carrie Nork Minelli, director of advertising and public relations for the Bensalem gambling hall, they’re taking these new safety protocols seriously. Their nifty-looking temperature check system uses a contactless thermal camera to track your body’s temperature.

They’re also making the most of their cleaning and sanitation efforts by focusing on high-touch areas, including door handles, bathrooms and dining surfaces. They’re even using a machine that cleans the walls of the poker room to improve hygiene. They’re also announcing an updated schedule of operations, closing on Mondays and Fridays for deep cleaning and operating on a 24-hour basis on weekends. The new schedule is designed to keep the Bensalem casino running smoothly while complying with COVID rules.