
When Indiana casinos reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, possibly in mid-June, slot machine capacity will be reduced and employees will be wearing face masks, among other COVID-19 prevention measures mandated by the Indiana Gaming Commission.
A trip to the casino won't be like it used to be when Northwest Indiana's five gaming properties finally reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, likely on or after June 14.
The Indiana Gaming Commission on Friday issued guidelines for casino operators requiring them to devise plans for implementing employee and patron health screenings, strict capacity limits, rigid disinfection requirements, and restrictions on smoking, among other measures, before their casino will be allowed to reopen.
According to Sara Tait, the commission's executive director, the health and safety mandates "serve to provide confidence to the public that gaming will commence in a measured and responsible manner under conditions now necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Under the plan, every employee and guest must be quizzed about recent travel, contacts and health symptoms, along with undergoing a temperature check and sanitizing their hands, before they'll be permitted to enter a casino.
Once inside, casinos will be limited to half their usual capacity, all employees must wear a face mask and patrons have to stay at least 6 feet away from others at all times.
To enforce the spacing, roughly every other slot machine and sportsbook kiosk will be turned off, each machine still in use will be cleaned between patrons, and table games will be limited to three players for blackjack, four for roulette and six for craps.
All individuals participating in table games — employees and patrons — must wear face masks. Cards must be replaced after each shift and any touching of the cards by anyone other than the dealer limited.
In addition, chips must be disinfected every two hours and dice after each shooter. No one will be allowed to stand around and watch table games, and no smoking is permitted by patrons at a table, according to the guidelines.
Smoking elsewhere in the casino also is required to be limited to a designated area and congregating in that area is prohibited.
The guidelines also prohibit food and drink on the casino floor; concerts, nightclubs, live events and shows; promotions likely to generate a crowd; valet service; coat check; buffets; and poker and pai gow rooms.
According to the Gaming Commission, its guidelines are the minimum COVID-19 prevention standards a casino must agree to follow before it'll be considered for reopening.
The commission said casinos can develop and implement stricter mandates, including requiring every patron wear a mask and establishing procedures for removing patrons who refuse.
If a casino is notified of a confirmed COVID-19 case at its property, whether patron or employee, it must share information about the person with local health authorities for contact tracing purposes, as well as notifying the Gaming Commission.
The casino also must prepare specific disinfectant plans and procedures to follow if a person confirmed to have the coronavirus visits its property.
There still is no firm date for the reopening of any of the 13 commercial casinos in Indiana or the tribal casino in South Bend.
The Gaming Commission last week indicated casino reopenings probably won't begin until Phase 4 of Gov. Eric Holcomb's "Back on Track" plan — tentatively scheduled for June 14.
The fourth installment in the "Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops" series features Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez. See as Martinez performs highway patrols and oversees a raid on a suspected drug house.
Gallery: How Northwest Indiana casinos have changed over the past 24 years
How Northwest Indiana casinos have changed over the past 20 years
Horseshoe Casino, Hammond

1999
Name: Empress Casino
Location: Hammond
Slot machines: 1,660
Table games: 64
Casino "win": $229,134,089
Employees: 1,959
2019
Name: Horseshoe Casino
Location: Hammond
Slot machines: 2,173
Table games: 150
Casino "win": $386,704,714
Employees: 1,835
Source: Indiana Gaming Commission annual reports. Data from 1999 covers the calendar year; data from 2019 covers the state fiscal year (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019). "Win" is the casino's revenue after paying winning bets.
Ameristar Casino, East Chicago

1999
Name: Harrah's Casino
Location: East Chicago
Slot machines: 1,809
Table games: 72
Casino "win": $206,739,712
Employees: 1,735
2019
Name: Ameristar Casino
Location: East Chicago
Slot machines: 1,748
Table games: 79
Casino "win": $226,733,852
Employees: 1,242
Source: Indiana Gaming Commission annual reports. Data from 1999 covers the calendar year; data from 2019 covers the state fiscal year (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019). "Win" is the casino's revenue after paying winning bets.
Majestic Star Casino, Gary

1999
Name: Majestic Star
Location: Gary
Slot machines: 1,410
Table games: 57
Casino "win": $117,248,008
Employees: 1,058
2019
Name: Majestic Star
Location: Gary
Slot machines: 790
Table games: 49
Casino "win": $89,120,898
Employees: 763
Source: Indiana Gaming Commission annual reports. Data from 1999 covers the calendar year; data from 2019 covers the state fiscal year (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019). "Win" is the casino's revenue after paying winning bets.
Majestic Star Casino II, Gary

1999
Name: Trump Casino
Location: Gary
Slot machines: 1,249
Table games: 51
Casino "win": $138,866,099
Employees: 1,261
2019
Name: Majestic Star Casino II
Location: Gary
Slot machines: 830
Table games: 14
Casino "win": $61,374,238
Employees: 201
Source: Indiana Gaming Commission annual reports. Data from 1999 covers the calendar year; data from 2019 covers the state fiscal year (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019). "Win" is the casino's revenue after paying winning bets.
Blue Chip Casino, Michigan City

1999
Name: Blue Chip Casino
Location: Michigan City
Slot machines: 1,336
Table games: 57
Casino "win": $160,605,827
Employees: 1,779
2019
Name: Blue Chip Casino
Location: Michigan City
Slot machines: 1,669
Table games: 48
Casino "win": $153,530,104
Employees: 970
Source: Indiana Gaming Commission annual reports. Data from 1999 covers the calendar year; data from 2019 covers the state fiscal year (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019). "Win" is the casino's revenue after paying winning bets.