Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Twp. and Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County have shut down again.
Mount Airy’s temporary closure went into effect 12:01 a.m. Saturday and it will remain closed through 8 a.m. Jan. 4 to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s latest shutdown order, said Frank Leone, chief operating officer and general manager of Mount Airy.
All resort facilities including the casino, hotel, spa, golf course and restaurants will remain closed to the public for three weeks, Leone said.
Essential staff necessary to operate the property during the temporary closure will remain on site to assist with securing, cleaning, sanitizing and maintaining the facility. Additional measures also will be taken to ensure the safety of the remaining on-site staff, he said.
“The health and safety of our team members and guests is our top concern at Mount Airy Casino Resort,” Leone said in an emailed statement. “Our team will continue to monitor the situation closely and look forward to reopening on January 4.”
For those with reservations at Mount Airy until Jan. 3, Leone said cancellations will be honored without penalty. For information, call 877-682-4791.
Anthony Carlucci, president and general manager of Mohegan Sun Pocono, said the Plains Twp. casino also would temporarily shut down until Jan. 4 in accordance with the governor’s order.
Wolf’s new slate of COVID-19 restrictions come more than four months after Mohegan Sun Pocono and Mount Airy Casino reopened after Wolf’s previous shutdown from mid-March through June.
Like other casinos throughout the state, they have been operating at 50% capacity with a reduced number of slot machines and restricted capacity at table games.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will need to approve the reopening of Mount Airy, Mohegan Sun Pocono and other casinos.
The board announced it will work with the 12 casinos in the state on closing procedures as part of the COVID-19 mitigation order Wolf announced Thursday.
The closures do not affect other forms of gaming regulated by the Gaming Control Board offered via the internet, including casino-type games, sports wagering and fantasy contests.
Denise Allabaugh is a business writer for The Citizens’ Voice. Contact her at dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2115 or @CVAllabaugh on Twitter.