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All nine casinos on the boardwalk and in the marina are gearing up for whenever Gov. Phil Murphy decides to act. This would be their busy season, after all.
But Joe Lupo, president at the Hard Rock casino, says it’s not as easy as just rolling out the welcome mat.
“For all nine properties to go to our vendors at the same time and say, ‘we need fresh beer, we need fresh produce, we need meat,’ things like that, it’s a task on the vendors as well,” Lupo told KYW Newsradio.
He figures it’ll take at least a week at his place to be fully prepared once an opening date is set.
The Casino Association of New Jersey has worked on health and safety standards that mirror, in large part, what the state has required of other businesses.
Facilities have had three months to clean up, install protective barriers and establish protocols to ensure safety.
A few casinos have taken advantage of current orders to begin offering outdoor dining without gambling. The Golden Nugget has made that change in the marina, along with the Landshark Bar and Grill outside Resorts Casino Hotel.
At the Hard Rock, Lupo hopes to reopen in time for the July Fourth holiday. Like his competitors, he’ll require masks and social distancing, as well as checking people at the door.
“We’ll also have thermal imaging,” he added, “so when all customers coming into the building as well as team members will have their temperature taken and they won’t be permitted in if they have a temperature over 100.4.”
He says 100 workers will be assigned to a “safe and sound clean team” to sanitize things.
Customers will encounter clear barriers at some table games and the sportsbook, and they'll be kept further apart at the slots. The air filtration system has also been upgraded.
There are no shows, and there is some dining and limited occupancy in the hotel.
As for the 3,500 workers, they’ll be called back based on consumer demand.