It could mean, for one, fewer slots and tables.

The shifting mix, perhaps accelerated by the pandemic, could lead to long-term changes on the casino floor. That total helped Pennsylvania see a year-over-year gain in total gambling revenue in September, making up for declining revenue at the slots and tables. Casino games offered online in Pennsylvania brought in revenue of more than $57 million in September, compared with $4.1 million a year earlier, when only a handful of online gambling operations were live in the state. Meanwhile, during a pandemic that kept some casinos idle for more than 100 days, online gambling has boomed, something not expected to go away anytime soon. As of June 30, there were about 10,700 employees across the state’s 12 casinos - a year earlier, that number was more than 16,700. The last two Gaming Control Board annual reports show the drop in employment amid the pandemic. In addition, he said casinos’ bottom lines aren’t suffering as much as the top lines, indicating operators are getting by with fewer employees and lower expenses. The pandemic is forcing casino operators to adapt to a new reality and likely pushing them to become more efficient and careful in how they spend marketing dollars, said Michael Pollock, managing director of Spectrum Gaming Group, a consulting firm in Horsham.Īlready, he has observed, casinos are focusing more of their marketing efforts on core patrons, getting more money out of higher-end customers. The casino is continuing to work on previously announced initiatives, such as opening its sportsbook in late November, she added. The Bethlehem property now employs about 1,600 people, Corwin said. Wind Creek Bethlehem reopened in late June at less than the permitted 50% occupancy and last month announced it was laying off 20% of its employees amid significantly lower business volumes.

The casino industry has been hammered by the pandemic, which at one point forced the temporary closure of all 989 commercial and tribal casino properties across the country. But, she said, Pennsylvania has no plans to change mitigation orders already in place, seeing itself as better prepared to handle an increase in cases than it was when the pandemic hit in March and led to widespread shutdown orders. Rachel Levine said Wednesday the state was seeing a “fall resurgence” of the coronavirus. The return of casino poker rooms comes after Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. 16, 2020, with several precautions in place, including plexiglass dividers between players.

Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County is reopening its poker room Friday, Oct.

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