Arkansas' casinos will be allowed to reopen on May 18 at one-third capacity 'with stringent social distancing requirements in place,' Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Thursday in Texarkana.
Arkansas' casinos will be allowed to reopen on May 18 at one-third capacity 'with stringent social distancing requirements in place,' Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Thursday in Texarkana. HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — According to a press release, Oaklawn plans to reopen its casino on Monday, May 18 at 9 a.m., in directive with the guidelines placed by the Arkansas Department of Health. Oaklawn Park, which is scheduled to reopen its casino May 18 at 9:00 a.m., outlined the guidelines which will be implemented to facilitate the reopening process. The casino has been closed since.
Hutchinson, at his daily COVID-19 news conference, said the state is working to provide guidance to the three gaming casinos in Arkansas which includes Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs 'so that they can renew limited operations.'
Hutchinson said the gaming industry has presented proposals as to how they could socially distance 'in that environment' and 'manage the population there.'
Online Casino 18
Oaklawn announced on March 15 that after two people in Garland County tested positive for the virus, the decision was made to voluntarily close the casino for two weeks, effective March 16-30.
Casino Open May 18
Hutchinson subsequently ordered Oaklawn and the state’s two other casinos — Southland in West Memphis, and Saracen Casino Annex in Pine Bluff — to close for the remainder of March as one of the efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Hutchinson said Dr. Nate Smith, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, has 'worked very hard, we've all worked hard' with the industry to allow the casinos to renew 'limited operations.'
He also noted that the casinos are continuing to work with Smith, who would be releasing the guidance either late Thursday or Friday.
'We'll be monitoring it very closely,' Hutchinson said.