Reopened Casinos Tunica Report

Went to Tunica this past weekend. All casinos except Gold Strike were open (they will be opening on 5/25/20

Sam's Town is currently only operating slots (no table games and nobody could give an idea on when they would open). Slots were about 40% running with spacing as needed according to government guidelines. Crowd was fairly thin, buffet was closed, only food open was the snack bar, which is the slowest in the USA

Gold Strike was closed, but saw a news report that they will be opening Monday May 25th. Tables will have plexiglass barriers between players and dealers. Slots will alos have appropriate spacing. Not sure on exact specifications as they were not open.

Horseshoe is where we spent most of the time. Craps was limited to 6 per table (3 each side), the rest of table games had 3 max per table and tables were only half operating due to shutting down every other table. Slots had the requisite spacing, but it is NOT every other slot, it is basically only 2 per every 5. I would estimate around 40% overall were available. Saturday night was not particularly crowded as compared to usual, but it was virtually impossible to get a spot on any table game from abou 8pm to 3am. I was told that the casino was closed from 3am-8am for cleaning, but since I was asleep cannot confirm this. Buffet is closed, but Binions Steakhouse, the Asian Bistro, the Burger Bar and a sit down restaurant (not part of the usual operation) was all available. Mask wearing was not mandatory, but using liquid sanitizer when you sit at a table was. You also had to wait until you seat and chip area was cleaned before you could sit at a table when someone left. All employees, including dealers, all wore masks (which they hated). First weekend back for them, there was major hotel issues with rooms not ready, rooms given out that had not been cleaned yet. (We actually got upgraded to a mini suite due to them not having our room ready by 5pm, then giving us a room that had not been cleaned when we checked in again at 7pm). Did not notice a lot of activity in the poker rooms and sportsbook was closed, but think you could bet on Nascar via the kiosks.

We did not go to Fitzgeralds, First Jackpot or Hollywood, but can only assume guidelines are similar for tables/slots there.


Will be going this weekend as well, hopefully some of the reopening issues will be worked out.

Can you tell more about how the craps tables were set up? How was the set up for distancing the players?

I saw a photo of plexiglass running along the perimeter of craps tables at Bellagio in Vegas with spaces left open for players to use.

The hotel rooms weren’t cleaned yet?

What were they doing for 70 days???

Quote: DJTeddyBear

The hotel rooms weren’t cleaned yet?

What were they doing for 70 days???

Remaining closed, employees at home

A hotel with no one inside is not an essential job

Quote: darkoz

Remaining closed, employees at home

A hotel with no one inside is not an essential job

Uhm.... ew. Some people leave a lot of trash in their rooms...

Quote: Venthus

Uhm.... ew. Some people leave a lot of trash in their rooms...

I hope they had a once over before closing. Enough to grab garbage etc out the rooms.

Laundry, new sheets etc, that was probably done after reopening.

Just guessing that is probably how it went down

Quote: darkoz

Remaining closed, employees at home

A hotel with no one inside is not an essential job

They could’ve called them back to work a few days before reopening

Quote: michael99000

They could’ve called them back to work a few days before reopening

I don't think they wanted to wait a few days to get that business in.

The government ordered the casinos closed.

That didn't mean people working but closed to the public. I'm pretty certain it meant closed no workers.

First day they are open is also gonna be first day they bring back most of the staff probably. Perhaps one day to get organized pre open

Quote: mtcards

Saturday night was not particularly crowded as compared to usual, but it was virtually impossible to get a spot on any table game from abou 8pm to 3am.

This is what I worry about when I take my next Vegas trip. My game of choice is Pai Gow Poker. With the limited seating and the number of casinos that will still be closed I wonder how hard it is to actually find a spot at an open Pai Gow table.

I think I might have read somewhere that Sahara is doing a table game seating reservation thing on their app(?).

Sorry for the delay in answering, but when we were there the last time, Gold Strike had the plexiglass up around the craps tables with a maximum of six players per table. Horseshoe did not have plexiglass but also allowed six at a time. They had the area roped off at Horseshoe where you had to enter the "playing area" at a single point to create a line for people waiting. Its been since mid June when I saw that so it may be different now

Yup, I'm sure they will handle craps like South Mississippi, 4 to a side, as per the latest from MGC.

Quote: DeMango

Yup, I'm sure they will handle craps like South Mississippi, 4 to a side, as per the latest from MGC.

So MS increased the people allowed at each table? Wasn't it 3 to each side last month? I'll be out there in 2 weeks (first time since COVID took over).....I can't wait....

Yes, 4 to a side on craps, still 3 to a carnival game and blackjack

Can anyone update conditions since July? Vegas in July was actually different from Vegas in Oct. More crowded; a few more restaurants open; more of normal feel but still definitely NOT the old Vegas pre-covid.

Tunica sounded worse that Vegas as to playing conditions. I used to travel their by car fairly often. Was thinking of visiting Mid-South again. But if you have to 'line' up to play, that doesn't sound to pleasant. And since Buffets were truly the MAIN way people at in the Tunica casinos, the dearth of capacity at restaurants sounds bad. Sure don't want to have to drive between Memphis and Tunica daily just to eat...........LOL Or to Southhaven. So if you guys can update, would be appreciative.