{"id":41856,"date":"2020-10-05T23:20:11","date_gmt":"2020-10-05T23:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=41856"},"modified":"2020-10-06T17:14:19","modified_gmt":"2020-10-06T17:14:19","slug":"after-seven-months-return-of-live-poker-rooms-in-pennsylvania-coming-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/after-seven-months-return-of-live-poker-rooms-in-pennsylvania-coming-soon\/","title":{"rendered":"After Seven Months, Return of Live Poker Rooms in Pennsylvania Coming Soon"},"content":{"rendered":"

We aren’t bluffing. Some poker rooms<\/strong> in Pennsylvania<\/strong> could be reopening in a few weeks<\/strong>. According to a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board<\/strong>, some casinos have submitted plans and safety protocols for review. No specific dates<\/strong> or names<\/strong> of properties were given.<\/p>\n

However, it’s positive news for poker players who have been waiting a long time to get back to live games<\/strong>. Casinos in Pennsylvania starting shutting down to slow the spread of coronavirus in mid-March<\/strong>. They did not begin to welcome back guests until June<\/strong> but poker rooms were not open due to the social nature<\/strong> of the game.<\/p>\n

Closed poker rooms, tight-lipped operators<\/h2>\n

A representative for Rivers said dates for reopening poker rooms at Rivers Casinos in Philadelphia<\/strong> and Pittsburgh<\/strong> are yet to be determined<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A Penn National representative<\/strong> did not have any updates on poker rooms at The Meadows<\/strong> or Hollywood Casino<\/strong>. Play Pennsylvania has requests into other casinos for comment.<\/p>\n

So, it seems for now operators are playing it close to the vest.<\/p>\n

Anthony Cicala III<\/strong>, a reporter for US Poker<\/em> offered some insight:<\/p>\n

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From an insider I was told 6 weeks , 7 person poker opening at Parx<\/p>\n

— Anthony F Cicali III (@EataHoagie) October 3, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Players pine for poker<\/h2>\n

When the PGCB released their casino reopening protocols in late May, a part of it stated that poker rooms were not authorized<\/span><\/strong> to operate due to players handling of cards and chips<\/strong>. Poker room operations would be re-examined based upon changes with the CDC and PA Department of Health guidance.<\/span><\/p>\n

On June 9, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh<\/strong> was the first to welcome back visitors. When asked when poker rooms would return, PGCB Director of Communication Doug Harbach<\/strong> said poker rooms present a different type of challenge since people are sitting close together<\/strong> in a room. He said at the time:<\/p>\n

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“The casinos want to walk before they run and make sure they are getting the venue open and then move on to opening up other areas once they know the protocols are working well.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

PokerStars<\/strong>, the state’s lone online poker<\/strong> site has posted healthy numbers in PA, but players are still pining for in-person play.<\/p>\n

Harbach<\/strong> gave this update to PlayPennsylvania<\/em> in late August about poker rooms in Pennsylvania:<\/p>\n

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“There has been no alteration to the casino reopening protocols released by the Gaming Control Board in May in which poker rooms were not authorized to operate. At the same time, this guideline can be reexamined based on health experts’ guidance. Should casinos wish to explore reopening a casino room, it would need to provide plans to do so safely which would be reviewed by the Board on a case-by-case basis.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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No poker in New Jersey; poker room virus precautions elsewhere<\/h2>\n

Currently, all poker rooms in New Jersey<\/strong> are closed.<\/p>\n

The Bellagio<\/strong> in Las Vegas opened its poker room in June. Nevada state guidelines mandated five-handed<\/strong> play at rooms without dividers or plexiglass partitions. However, the Bellagio’s request for six-handed poker games<\/strong> with partitions was approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.<\/p>\n

Other poker rooms in Nevada have also reopened with virus protocols in place. Here is the set up of the Venetian Poker Room<\/strong> is Las Vegas:<\/p>\n

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The @VenetianPoker<\/a> has the best plexiglass system in the US! If I’m wrong, show us ur fav casino system!
They make them in-house. Oh and I bagged a baby stack as @Lexy<\/a> Gavin’s flavor of the month. pic.twitter.com\/hyQ1l6dyfH<\/a><\/p>\n

— Bob Mather Poker (@BobMatherPoker) September 20, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

When will poker rooms in Pennsylvania reopen?<\/h2>\n

Currently, none of the poker rooms are open. PlayPennsylvania<\/em> will update as they reopen here.<\/p>\n

Hollywood Casino live poker update<\/h3>\n

Information about Hollywood Casino Poker Room:<\/p>\n