Wind Creek Casino Reopening

  
© Mickey Welsh / Advertiser Electronic gaming at the Wind Creek Casino.

The wait is nearly over to play electronic bingo again at Wind Creek facilities in Alabama, though some major changes and safety requirements for guests are planned.

You also may want to make a reservation to get on the casino floor.

  1. Our plans for reopening our resorts and Casinos April 28, 2020 A message from Wind Creek CEO, Jay Dorris about our plans for reopening our resorts and Casinos It’s been forty-five (45) days since we voluntarily closed our doors in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
  2. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Several casinos in Alabama will soon reopen to customers after closing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wind Creek Hospitality says all its properties will reopen.
  3. For the Lehigh Valley, the Wind Creek reopening means more than just an opportunity for patrons to watch the roulette wheel spin, throw dice on the craps table and see another card turned in.

“Just like your favorite restaurant on a Friday night, a reservation isn’t required,' said Jay Dorris, CEO and President of Wind Creek, in a news release from Wind Creek Hospitality on Wednesday. 'But if you absolutely want to join us on a given day and time, reservations are available.”

© Advertiser file Wind Creek's electronic bingo machines will be cleaned between each person's use.

Wind Creek Bethlehem reopened at 6 a.m. 'We are here to have a place of escape for our guests and just to have some fun,' Corwin said. But like other businesses, they'll continue to follow.

After a soft opening for invited guests, Wind Creek's facilities in Montgomery, Wetumpka and Atmore will reopen to the public on June 8.

'A big part of our plans is predicated on real social distancing,' Dorris told the Advertiser in an interview prior to Wednesday's announcement.

Each game takes up about 3 feet of space. Dorris said that the casino floors will require two unused games between each active game, in order to allow the recommended six foot safety distance.

Dorris said they're also in the process of installing barriers. He said these are being manufactured, and will be put in place as they are received.

Guests and employees will be required to wear masks in the building, which guests are asked to provide for themselves. Masks will also be available on site for a small donation that supports first-responders, health care providers and COVID-19 patient relief funds.

Additionally, all guests and employees will have their temperatures taken.

'We want them to know they're choosing a place that has taken every step we can take to make sure they're going to be safe, our employees are going to be safe, and we can all still have fun,' Dorris said.

A limited number of guests will be allowed on the casino floor, roughly a third of normal capacity, according to the Wind Creek release. The public will have four sessions a day that they're allowed to use the electronic bingo machines. The room will undergo a deep cleaning between sessions, and machines will be cleaned after each use.

If the casino floor is at capacity, Wind Creek will have waiting areas available for guests.

They're also implementing a new reservation system as of June 3 to let guests make a request to play up to 14 days in advance. Reservations can be made at www.WindCreekCasino.com or by calling 866-WIND-360 (866-946-3360).

'We're eager to get (guests) back,' Dorris said. 'They need to know that we've been working extremely hard. We've been consulting with public health people. We have a doctor that has been helping us develop our reopening plan.'

One change Dorris described that's specific to the River Region is a new use for the entertainment center at Wind Creek Wetumpka, which has served as a concert hall for major touring acts. Dorris said that is being converted into additional gaming space.

“The key for us is to spread the games out so our guests can spread out,” Dorris said.

In restaurants, tables will be spaced. The hotel and player services areas, and anywhere else that could have lines, will have social distancing markers to keep people six feet apart.

Facilities will also only allow smoking in designated areas that are separate from the gaming floor, restaurants and other public areas.

Dorris said live music would return to the facilities sometime later after the reopening.

Along with guests, this will mark the return of Wind Creek employees, who have been kept on the payroll by Wind Creek since the facilities closed.

'Our staff has been fantastic, and they've been very appreciative,' Dorris said. 'We've been very fortunate that we've had success that allowed us to weather this situation better than perhaps some other companies. You know, the staff are our company. The building is nice and pretty, but that's not what makes us successful. We've been fortunate to be able to keep our staff.'

Wind Creek Hospitality is an authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized Indian tribe in the state of Alabama

For more information about safety protocols at Wind Creek, visit www.WindCreekStandard.com.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Wind Creek to reopen Alabama casinos June 8

Last updated Dec. 14.

The uncontrollable spread of COVID-19 has made it very difficult for the US casino industry to function in most states. Across the country, casinos are limiting the number of customers on their floors or are closing their doors to casual and experts bettors in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Casinos were particularly hard hit in the spring, when most were forced to shutter. On March 19, the American Gaming Associationissued a release on the crisis. AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said:

With a spike of coronavirus cases in the fall of 2020, casinos are once again being forced to shut down in many states. Most casinos remain open in some respect, but that will likely change.

Though many gamblers will turn to horse betting, online casinos and online poker, our staff at PlayUSA wants to keep you up to date with a list of casino properties that have suspended operations in the wake of this global pandemic.

Alabama casinos

Wind Creek casinos in the state are open with some restrictions.

Arizona casinos

Most Arizona casinos are open subject to general COVID restrictions in the state. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort is currently closed, and Casino del Sol closed for the rest of 2020 starting on Dec. 7.

Arkansas casinos

Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka Reopening

Arkansas casinos are open, with some restrictions.

Latest report on Arkansas casinos here.

California casinos

Creek

California is currently under a stay-at-home order and capacity restrictions in most regions. However, most California tribal casinos are currently open with a variety of restrictions that don’t always line up with state guidelines. More on that here.

Card rooms closed on Nov. 30 for three weeks

Colorado casinos

Casinos in Colorado mostly remain open, but some such as Ute Mountain Casino Hotel have opted to close temporarily. Table games are shut down in some other casinos. More on that at PlayColorado.

Wind Creek Casino Reopening Bethlehem

Connecticut casinos

The state’s two casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort, are both open with restrictions. As of the week of Dec. 1, Foxwoods announced even further restrictions and temporary closing of some hotel areas.

Latest report on casinos in Connecticut here.

Delaware casinos

The three Delaware casinos are currently open with some restrictions

  • Delaware Park
  • Dover Downs
  • Harrington Casino and Raceway

Florida casinos

All of Florida’s casinos are currently open with varying restrictions.

Idaho casinos

Most Idaho casinos remain open.

Illinois casinos

All casinos in Illinois are closed as of Nov. 20 under an order from Gov. JB Pritzker. Visit PlayIllinois for more updates.

Wind Creek Casino Reopening

Indiana casinos

Indiana casinos mostly remain open, with some restrictions. Visit PlayIndiana for more updates.

Iowa casinos

All Iowa casinos are currently open, but with restrictions.

More on casinos in Iowa here.

Kansas casinos

Kansas casinos remain open for now.

Kentucky racing

There are no casinos in Kentucky.

Louisiana casinos

Most Louisiana casinos remain open, but at limited capacity.

Wind Creek Casino Pa Reopening

More information here on casinos in Louisiana.

Maine casinos

Maine casinos are open but must close earlier than usual. More on casinos in Maine here.

Maryland casinos

Maryland casinos are open, with restrictions. However, infections in Maryland via casinos have drawn some scrutiny.

Massachusetts casinos

Massachusetts’ three casinos — Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston Harbor — are all open, with restrictions. More from PlayMA here.

Michigan casinos

Michigan’s three commercial casinos are currently closed:

  • MGM Grand
  • Greektown Casino
  • MotorCity Casino

Some tribal casinos have also closed their doors for now.

Minnesota casinos

Native American tribes with casinos remain open for now, with restrictions. More here.

Mississippi casinos

All 26 of the state’s casinos remain open.

Missouri casinos

Missouri casinos are all open, with varying restrictions.

Montana casinos

Some of Montana’s tribal casinos are closed. There are restrictions that limit capacity in casinos in the state.

Nevada casinos

Casinos in the state and in Las Vegas remain largely open, but at reduced capacity. These include Palazzo, for example, where rooms are closed seven days a week but the casino floor remains open. More from PlayNevadahere and more on Las Vegas specifically can be found here.

New Hampshire casinos

There is no word yet on when casinos in New Hampshire will reopen.

New Jersey casinos

Atlantic City casinos continue to stay open, with restrictions. Of course, online casinos in New Jersey, are still running.

New Mexico casinos

Worsening conditions in New Mexico have led to almost all casinos being closed. More here.

New York casinos

All New York casinos, both commercial and tribal, remain open for now.

North Carolina casinos

The only two casinos in North Carolina, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino are currently open.

North Dakota casinos

Tribal casinos are generally open in North Dakota, although it is on a case by case basis.

Ohio casinos

Ohio casinos remain open, but are subject to a curfew.

Oklahoma casinos

Almost all Oklahoma casinos are currently open.

Oregon casinos

Most tribal casinos in Oregon remain open, with restrictions. Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City is one that has closed temporarily.

Pennsylvania casinos

PA casinos are temporarily closed for a three-week pause that began Dec. 12. Updates From PlayPennsylvania here.

Rhode Island casinos

The two Rhode Island casinos, Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Tiverton, closed for two weeks starting Nov. 30.

South Dakota casinos

Many South Dakota casinos have closed because of worsening COVID cases in the state, but a few remain open.

Texas casinos

Texas casinos are currently open.

Washington casinos

The state’s tribal casinos all remain open with restrictions.

West Virginia casinos

All five of West Virginia’s casinos remain open, with restrictions.

Wisconsin casinos

Tribal casinos are open or closed on a case by case basis. More here.

Wyoming casinos

Wyoming casinos are currently closed.