Meskwaki Casino Reopening
We can mention as an example the Lakeside Hotel &casino of Osceola, the Wild Rose Casino & Resort of Jefferson or the Casino & Golf Resort of Riverside. The Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino is the biggest gaming venue of the state with a great offer of 1,900 slot machines, 60 gaming tables, 1 poker room and a horse track. Lakeside Hotel Casino in Osceola will have a soft opening Monday and Tuesday, with only invited guests. The casino will open to the general public starting Wednesday. Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson.
Posted on: May 26, 2020, 02:51h.
Last updated on: May 26, 2020, 03:53h.
Iowa casinos are being allowed to reopen on June 1, but under a series of strict regulations designed to protect employees and guests.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) ordered the state’s 19 commercial casinos to suspend their operations effective March 17. Several casinos, including Prairie Meadows, the richest commercial casino in terms of gross gaming revenue (GGR), announced they would close prior to her order.
The governor’s Public Health Disaster Emergency proclamation runs until June 25. But the Republican is issuing orders beforehand to allow certain businesses to reopen.
On Tuesday, Reynolds’ newest proclamation allows casinos, outdoor performance venues, bowling alleys, amusement parks, skating rinks, skate parks, and outdoor playgrounds to reopen next month if “public health measures are implemented.”
Recovery means striking a balance between getting life and business back to normal while continuing to manage the virus activity,” Reynolds said Tuesday. “Our recovery is contingent upon our ability to protect both the lives and livelihoods of Iowans. We can’t prioritize one over the other.”
For casinos, the establishment must limit the number of patrons present on the gaming floor and waging area to 50 percent. The casino must also reduce its number of gaming positions (slot machines and table game seats) by half.
Casino Restrictions
Along with reduced capacity, Iowa casinos will need to ensure social distancing, and keep all gaming positions at least six feet apart. For table games, protective barriers such as plexiglass satisfy the social distancing requirement.
Casino restaurants are not allowed to reopen buffets or salad bars, and the property must increase hygiene practices.
Prairie Meadows reported GGR of $208.28 million in 2019. That’s more than 14 percent of the $1.467 billion the 19 commercial casinos won last year. The casino and horse racetrack is owned by Polk County, and laid off nearly all of its 1,300 workers last month.
Caesars Entertainment’s Horseshoe Council Bluffs was next at $172.96 million, and Penn National Gaming’s Ameristar third at $159.13 million.
Iowa is also home to three tribal casinos – WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Blackbird Bend Casino in Onawa, and Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel in Tama. Since they are Native American enterprises on sovereign territory, they do not have to follow state orders.
But all three tribal casinos closed back in March. The Winnebago Tribe says WinnaVegas will open tomorrow, May 27. The Meskwaki Nation’s Shelter-in-Place Declaration runs through June 1, and hasn’t announced a reopening for its casino. Blackbird hasn’t annoucned a reopening either.
Coronavirus Spreading
Reynolds, unlike the majority of governors in the United States, never issued a stay-at-home order on Iowans.
The governor instead closed many businesses and schools, and prohibited large gatherings. Last week, she reopened bars, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and social clubs.
Reynolds’ continued easing of restrictions comes as Iowa is seeing an increase in COVID-19 deaths. The state reported 26 deaths on Saturday, its highest single-day number. Iowa has the 12th highest per capita coronavirus rate in the US.
Perdue Farms revealed new outbreaks at its plants in Sioux Center and Sioux City today.
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Q: What is Meskwaki Bingo Casino doing to ensure my safety?
Meskwaki is putting the health and safety of its guests and team members first! When you return, you’ll see we’ve implemented many safety measures and taken all necessary precautions to ensure a clean and safe environment.
- Physical distancing. You’ll see floor decals throughout the property to encourage keeping six feet between yourself and others. Additionally, restaurant tables and chairs, slot machines, table games, and other physical layouts have been modified to promote physical distancing.
- Increased cleaning. We’ve increased the cleaning and sanitizing practices throughout the property.
- Plexiglass barriers will be placed at service counters throughout the casino and at the hotel, restaurants, and back-of-house areas.
- Signage to promote safe health practices (physical distancing, frequent handwashing, etc.) will be placed throughout the property.
- Meskwaki will reopen as a smoke-free facility. Designated smoking areas will be provided 50 feet away from entrances.
- Meskwaki team members will wear PPE. All Meskwaki team members will be required to wear a face mask, and those required to have any contact with guests (food and beverage workers, cash handlers, housekeeping, security officers) will be required to wear gloves.
- Mandatory non-invasive temperature scans. Upon arrival, ALL guests AND team members will be required to have a non-invasive temperature scan. Any guest or team member with a temperature of 100.4°F or above will not be allowed on property and will be directed to contact their health care provider.
Q: What will your hours of operation be upon reopening?
Meskwaki is operating at a reduced capacity. Hours of operation will be:
Meskwaki Casino Tama Website
Monday – Thursday, 8 am – 12 am
24 hours on weekends, opening at 8 am Friday and closing Sunday night at midnight.
Q: Where can I enter the casino?
At this time, only themain entry, parking ramp, and hotel entrances will be open for guest use. The south Bingo entrance and top floor of the parking ramp will remain closed at this time.
Q: What is required of me while visiting Meskwaki to ensure the safety of myself and others?
- Upon arrival, you will be required to have a non-invasive temperature scan. If you have a temperature of 100.4°F or above, you will not be allowed on property.
- Face masks are required to be worn by everyone — all guests and team members — while on property.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Please stay home and seek the guidance of a health care professional if you do not feel well.
- You must be 21 to enter the property, 18-20 year olds may enter to play Bingo only.
Q: Which amenities will be open?
During Phase I of reopening, the following amenities will be open:
- The casino floor will be open with increased cleaning on all high-touchpoint surfaces, hand-sanitizing stations located throughout, and physical distancing measures enforced.
- Slot machine seating will be reduced by half with every other chair removed in order to encourage physical distancing.
- Table games will be open at a limited capacity. Seating will be limited to every other chair and a maximum of three players at each table, every other table will be closed, dealers will wear face shields in addition to masks, increased cleaning of surfaces will happen periodically, cards will be dealt face-up whenever possible, and chips will be disinfected at the end of each day.
- Bingo will be open at a limited capacity with 6 feet between all guests and a limited schedule.
- Food and beverage will be open at a limited capacity. See next Q&A for further details.
- The Hotel will be open and operating at 50% reduced capacity, guests must be 21 or over to stay — The newly renovated South Tower will be open, and the North Tower will remain closed at this time.
Meskwaki Casino Reopening Date
Q: Which amenities will remain closed?
During Phase I of reopening, the following amenities will remain closed:
- Poker
- Events Center
- Specific Hotel amenities: Bus Program, Tour and Travel, Valet
- Pool and fitness center
- Shuttle
- The Spa will remain closed permanently
- RV park will remain closed permanently
Q: How are you ensuring my safety at the food and beverage outlets?
All food and beverage team members have been trained and hold Serve Safe Certificates, which teaches proper sanitization practices, how to avoid cross-contamination, and other ways to promote public health.
The following food and beverage venues are open: Luckys Grill & Taproom (with select menu options from Prime Cut), the Food Arcade, The Lounge, The Buffet (with limited hours and food options), and Bingo Concessions.
Prime Cut Grill and the Service Bar will remain closed at this time.
The following safety measures will be taken at all food and beverage locations:
- Self-serve food and drink stations will not be operational at this time.
- Limited seating will promote physical distancing in all dining areas. Tables and chairs will be placed six feet apart and will be sanitized after each use.
- Menus will be single-use and disposed of after use.
- All countertops, workstations, cooler door handles, and draft beer taps will be sanitized at least once an hour.
- Tongs will be used to garnish all food dishes and drinks.
- Plexiglass shields will be placed at all POS stations.
Q: What additional cleaning protocols have you enforced?
The frequency of cleaning and sanitizing has been increased in all public spaces with an emphasis on frequent high-contact surfaces, including but not limited to: front-desk check-in counters, bell desks, elevators and elevator buttons, door handles, public bathrooms, room keys and locks, ATMs, kiosks, escalator and stair handrails, casino cage counters, gaming machines, gaming tables, dining surfaces, and seating areas.
Meskwaki has partnered with Springer Professional Services for precautionary disinfection services. Certified specialists will spray ultra-low volume (ULV) disinfectant throughout the property on a regular schedule. The formula is environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic, and non-harmful. Additionally, Meskwaki uses cleaning products and protocols that meet EPA guidelines and are approved for and effective against viruses, bacteria, and airborne and bloodborne pathogens.