Still no word on casino reopenings in New York

They, along with other businesses such as movie theaters, remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic – with no definite timetable on when they’ll be able to reopen their doors.

Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there would be an announcement next week regarding casinos, saying, “hopefully it’s going to be positive news.”

Workers at casinos located on state lands have protested in recent weeks, calling for guidance as to when their businesses will be allowed to reopen. Last week, workers at Del Lago Resort and Casino rallied outside the location, calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to release those details.
The governor has previously stated that businesses are being reopened based on how essential they are – and the potential risk of virus transmission if they reopen.

"I understand the economic reality," Cuomo said. "I understand the feeling that you see other places opening up but you still can’t get back to work, whether it’s a movie theater, some parts of the state, shopping malls, casinos, et cetera, obviously the common denominator is these tend to be congregate facilities, central air filtration systems, and it’s hard to enforce social distancing in them. I get it, and we’re trying to find a balance. I understand people’s anger and frustration, I do. And I feel it also, right? I want people to be back at work, I want people to have the dignity of work and the security of work, I’d like to see the economy come back as fast as possible from the State’s point of view, but on the other hand, same thing, it’s the same thing we’ve been talking about all day. If the colleges don’t enforce the rules, they’ll end up closing down. If we don’t enforce the rules or we open up too fast, then we have to backtrack, like France and Spain and Germany and Florida and Texas and all these states all around us."
Native American-operated casinos in New York have already reopened.