New York Casinos Receive Permission to Resume Operations

Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced casinos in New York State will be able to open their doors starting next week.

Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols and several other similar operations around the state were shut down last March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cuomo said casinos will be permitted to open at 25 percent capacity next Wednesday. They also will have to utilize enhanced ventilation systems.

Mask and social distancing requirements will be in place. Table games won't be able to operate unless physical barriers are installed to separate players.

Slot machines will be permitted if players are at least six feet apart.

In an interview on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program last week, Tioga Downs owner Jeff Gural said he expected the reopening guidelines would be released this week.

Gural said he hoped to bring back as many casino workers as possible when operations were allowed to resume.