Press Releases

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort to reopen table games June 18 with ‘Play it Safe™’ health and safety standards

Casino will feature Blackjack, Craps and Roulette

NITRO, W.Va. (June 16, 2020) – Mardi Gras Casino & Resort will reopen table games at 9 a.m. June 18 with new health and safety standards under Delaware North’s Play It Safe™ program.

The reopened table games will feature Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and popular novelty games.

“We’re bringing back table games in a way that helps safeguard the players,” said Eric Althaus, general manager of Mardi Gras Casino & Resort. “We know a lot of our patrons have been asking for table games to reopen so we’re excited to be able to do it.”

Key elements of the Play It Safe program for table games:

  • State-of-the-art shields/dividers have been installed at Blackjack tables. Face shields and/or protective eyewear are being provided for our employees at the other tables.
  • Employees and customers are required to wear masks in accordance with the Play It Safe guidelines.
  • The on-site Clean Team, which is equipped with Ecolab® multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant, will help protect guests by dispensing hand sanitizer and spot cleaning at the tables and other surfaces on request.
  • Guests are having hands sanitized upon entering the building. Hand sanitizer dispensers are available in the Pit areas for guest convenience. Hand sanitizer may be provided upon request.
  • All blackjack games will be dealt in a way that guests do not make hand contact with the cards.
  • Chips will be changed out daily and rotated with clean chips.
  • When a guest departs a table, that player’s area will be sanitized.

Mardi Gras implemented the comprehensive Play It Safe program ahead of its June 5 reopening to help keep guests and employees safe while slowing the spread of COVID-19. It encompasses the casino’s new operating procedures, which have been reengineered to minimize contact risk, as well as bolstered hygiene protocols to meet or exceed best-practice guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The facility also undergoes rigorous, ongoing cleaning and sterilization with Ecolab® products, which are formulated to eliminate bacteria and viruses such as COVID-19, and closes nightly for a deep-cleaning of all public areas.

Mardi Gras reopened at 50 percent capacity per the state’s directive and features a reduced number of slots, live racing without spectators but with onsite wagering, and simulcast wagering. Sports betting is not available, and the Lucky North players club has limited hours.

Food and beverage options are limited to grab-n-go items available at the sports bar. The casino’s hours are 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort is owned and operated by Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company with a portfolio of regional gaming and entertainment destinations, including Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. Delaware North is implementing Play It Safe throughout its gaming portfolio, which includes destinations in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, West Virginia and Australia.

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort unveils ‘Play it Safe™’ program of health and safety standards ahead of June 5 reopening

Program aligned to best practices of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in response to COVID-19

NITRO, W.Va. (June 3, 2020) – Mardi Gras Casino & Resort is implementing a comprehensive program ahead of its June 5 reopening that features new health and safety standards aimed at helping keep guests and employees safe while slowing the spread of COVID-19.

The program, called Play It Safe™, encompasses Mardi Gras’ new operating procedures, which have been reengineered to minimize contact risk. It includes bolstered hygiene protocols to meet or exceed best-practice guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As part of this effort, the facility will undergo rigorous, ongoing cleaning and sterilization with Ecolab® products, which are formulated to eliminate bacteria and viruses such as COVID-19 and will close nightly for a deep-cleaning of all public areas.

“The health and safety of our guests and employees is our top priority, and our Play It Safe™ program is focused on that,” said Eric Althaus, general manager of Mardi Gras Casino & Resort. “We are pleased the state has approved our reopening plan, which we worked on with Gov. Justice’s reopening team and the West Virginia Lottery.”

Mardi Gras will reopen at 50 percent capacity per the state’s directive and will feature a reduced number of slots, live racing without spectators but with onsite wagering, and simulcast wagering. Neither table games nor sports betting will be available.

The Lucky North players club will have limited hours, and food and beverage options will be closed, with the exception of grab-n-go items available at the sports bar. Mardi Gras’ hotel will remain closed until further notice. The casino’s hours will be 9am to 2am daily.

Key elements of the Play it Safe™ program include:

  • Guests are asked to adhere to social distancing protocols while waiting to enter.
  • All incoming guests will be added to a guest registry, and their identity will be stored as a record of their visit.
  • All guests will be required to wear a mask or other face covering during their visit.
  • Temperature screening of guests takes place upon entering the facility.
  • An on-site Clean Team has been created, and its members are equipped with Ecolab® multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant to conduct ongoing sanitization of all surfaces. They will help to protect guests by dispensing hand sanitizer and spot cleaning slot machines and other surfaces on request.
  • Social distancing protocols are in place throughout the facility.
  • Touchless service and payment options are now available at food and beverage outlets.
  • Hand-sanitizing stations have been added at the entrance and throughout the facility.
  • Air exchange settings have been bolstered to optimize air quality within the facility.
  • Some service offerings may be limited or unavailable to help maintain safe social distancing and health and safety guidelines.

Employees will undergo comprehensive training on Play It Safe™ health and safety standards and are required to strictly adhere to Play It Safe™ policies and procedures, including rigorous sanitization and hygiene requirements. Employees take a health check, including a temperature screen, when they report to work and are required to wear masks while on duty.

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort is owned and operated by Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company with a portfolio of regional gaming and entertainment destinations, including Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. Delaware North is implementing Play It Safe™ throughout its gaming portfolio, which includes destinations in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, West Virginia and Australia.