Commercial Casinos to Reopen June 1 at 50% Capacity Using Appropriate Social Distancing Protocols

Governor Kim Reynolds has announced that Iowa’s 19 commercial casinos will be allowed to reopen on June 1 after being closed for 75 days. They will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity and follow other important protocols and procedures to protect the health and safety of their guests, employees and communities. The Iowa Gaming Association is pleased that Governor Reynolds gave the order to reopen and the industry is committed to adhering to appropriate social distancing and hygiene guidelines.   

The Association has worked for the past few weeks with the Governor, her staff, health agencies and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) as our regulator to discuss comprehensive protocol and procedure guidelines of what each of the casino properties plan to proactively initiate for their staff and patron safety. Casinos will welcome the opportunity to bring back their furloughed staff, who are the backbone of delivering stellar customer service, and provide updated training and assurances that they're ready to be opened with all the necessary precautionary disinfecting and social distancing capacity caveats.  

These commercial casinos are premier entertainment destinations that are a viable part of Iowa’s economy -- adding $1 billion annual impact value to the state’s entertainment and tourism sectors. This significant pandemic disruption has taken a tremendous economic toll as the gaming industry provides a significant positive ripple effect for so many businesses, families, and communities. We will continue to follow the advice and guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Iowa Public Health Department, and Governor Reynolds. We’re closely monitoring all new developments regarding COVID-19 and will communicate updates on our website. Thank you for your cooperation.