Page 12 - Southern California Gaming Guide • March 2021

While covid-19 cases throughout Southern California are fewer than before with the Buffets and Entertainment
advent of the vaccines, Southern California casinos safety protocols remain stringent
for their guest and employee protection. Know that all casino safety precautions are not options when visiting any Southern California casino. Every requirement is in place to protect everyone who chooses to work in and visit a casino. Above all, please do not visit a casino — or anywhere — if you have a temperature or are not feeling well. The requirements here are all about guests and team members feeling safe while at the casino.
Mandatory Face Covering Safety Requirements
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and the State of California require wearing face coverings in public areas. At Southern California casinos, enforcing the wearing of face coverings is in now stringently in effect. All Southern California casino guests and employees are required to wear face-coverings. Bandanas, gaiters and face coverings with valves are no longer permitted in many casinos. Updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and studies that show that coverings such as bandanas and gaiters are not as effective as other kinds of face masks in helping prevent the spread of the covid-19. In fact, recent guidance recommends wearing double masks. On casino floors, if a guest removes a mask, he or she will be requested to replace it by casino personnel. Many casinos will request a guest up to three times to wear their masks, and if they do not comply, they may be asked to leave.
Temperature Checks
At casino entrances team members conduct non- invasive temperature checks using handheld temperature scanners or thermal cameras, or at some casinos, by self-administered thermal kiosks. Anyone displaying a temperature over 100.0°F will be asked to have a secondary temporal temperature screening. Any employee or guest confirmed to have a temperature over 100.0°F will not be allowed entry and will be directed to the appropriate medical care.
Hand Sanitizer and Cleanliness
Wash your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. All casinos have posted hygiene
signs throughout their properties with proper health and hygiene practices. All casinos have hand-sanitizing stations on the casino floor and in most areas. Some casinos provide disinfecting wipes available upon request.
Social (Physical) Distancing
Social distancing is employed by physical distancing guidelines throughout all casinos with floor markers and signage. At all times, maintain at least a six- foot distance between yourself and other guests and casino employees. Plexiglass shields have been installed at cashier and players club counters and desks, hotel check-ins and other areas including in some casinos, between slot machines.
If you play table games and poker, player positions have been reduced and plexiglass partitions now separate a player from the dealer and other players. Each table is cleaned according to the casino’s safety protocol schedule, frequently every day, according the casino’s safety guidelines.
At most Southern California casinos traditional buffets and entertainment venues are closed until further notice. Those casinos offering entertainment have preset their
venue seating for appropriate social distancing and require wearing a mask to attend.
Resorts/Hotels
Resort hotels are open with safety practices in place, including rigorous cleaning protocols. Some casino resorts have limited services. Check with each casino before you plan to stay.
Smoking
Smokers will find that some casinos have now created both outdoor and indoor areas for smokers’ use. Many casinos do not make it easy to smoke on the casino floor.
Shuttle Bus and Valet Services
Most shuttle bus routes have been temporarily suspended, along with many valet services.
Before You Go
Before you go to a casino, be sure to check the casino’s website — or call — to find out what to expect and what is open. Our list is a guideline and is not specific to all casinos, with the exception of the mandatory temperature checks, masks, and social distancing.
Featured Casinos Safety Programs
You can check online at featured (advertising) casinos’ websites for their safety programs and current available amenities.
Agua Caliente Casinos AguaCalienteCasinos.com
Barona Resort & Casino Barona.com
Casino Pauma CasinoPauma.com
Chumash Casino Resort ChumashCasino.com
Pala Casino Spa Resort PalaCasino.com
Spotlight 29 Casino Spotlight29.com
Sycuan Casino Resort Sycuan.com
Valley View Casino & Hotel ValleyViewCasino.com
PAGE 12
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
MARCH 2021