Casinos reopening

Gov. Cuomo announces that casinos can reopen September 9

Cuomo today.

Newschannel2's chelsea sherrod is live in studio with the details.

Chelsea good evening.

Good evening jason, after nearly six months of anindefinin the state have been given the green light to reopen.

Governor cuomo: casinos we said we were reviewing we would have an announcement.

Casinos can open september 9.

This reopening guidance is for non- tribal casinos like vernon downs .

Tribal casinos were allowed to open earlier this summer.

Jeff gural: it was a big relief.

We have a lot to do but we've been thinking about it.

I'm not sure we're going to open on the ninth but it'll be next week sometime.

Governor cuomo says that table games will not be allowed until the casino puts some physical barriers between the players and the gaming commission would have to approve of the physical barriers.

Currently none of the casinos in new york have them in place according to the governor.

Casinos wil be limted to 25% capacity which will be managed at the door by security.

Which vernon downs owner jeff gural says shouldn't be an issue.

Jeff gural: luckily vernon has a pretty small place so it's pretty easy to operate safely there.

We only use maybe 25% most of the time.

At the end of august, vernon down furloughed employees held a rally calling on the governor to give them guidance.

Gural is thankful that they can now return to work.

Jeff gural: very grateful that they did it.

When they came to me with the idea i told him i thought it was a good idea.

Gural says he is also going to open the hotel with additional cleaning protocols.

This reopening benefits vernon downs race track's income which is mostly generated by slot machine revenue.

Gural did announce that the race track is closing early for the season but hopes that business from the casino will help them stay open.

Jason.

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