Several Indiana Casinos Now Require Patrons To Wear Masks

Posted on June 26, 2020

What was once a suggestion is now a demand.

Caesars is now requiring all guests to wear masks while they visit any of the company’s indoor properties.

The policy is a response to rising COVID-19 cases around the country.

Since Caesars has dozens of casinos and other properties, that’s a big shakeup.

Tony Rodio, the CEO of Caesars Entertainment, says that a mask requirement was the natural next step for the company’s new safety measures.

“We promised that Caesars would continue to evaluate the latest recommendations, directives and medical science regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency and modify our enhanced health and safety protocols accordingly. As a result, we are immediately requiring everyone in our properties to wear masks.”

So from here on out, if you show up to a Caesars property without a mask, the staff will ask you to put one on. If you refuse to wear one, you’ll be escorted off the property.

Masks required at Indiana’s Caesars locations

Caesars has a handful of properties spread across Indiana.

Until further notice, you’ll have to wear a mask if you visit any of these gambling locations:

  • Harrah’s Hoosier Park
  • Indiana Grand Casino
  • Horseshoe Hammond
  • Caesars Southern Indiana
  • The Winner’s Circle locations in Indianapolis and New Haven

Thankfully, you won’t have to bring your own masks from home.

Back in May, the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) released a list of bare-minimum requirements that casinos had to hit before they could reopen.

That list specifically covers the use of masks.

Originally, only employees and gamblers sitting at table games had to wear masks. Even with that expanded to everyone, one of the requirements on the IGC’s list will help make a mask rule an easy one to follow for gamblers.

“Casinos may require patrons to wear facial coverings and shall establish procedures to respond to patrons refusing to comply. Casinos shall make facial coverings available to patrons if it is requested.”

Basically, you can bring your own masks if you’d like, but if you forget yours at home or don’t own one at all, Caesars has to provide you with one if you ask at any of their casinos.

More changes could be coming soon to casinos

Although Caesars was the first company to add a mask requirement, it likely won’t be the last.

Shortly after Caesars announced its mask requirement, MGM Resorts created an identical policy. MGM doesn’t have any casinos in Indiana, but the company following Caesars’ lead shows that more casino companies might start doing the same.

However, future changes could start coming from the IGC, rather than from individual companies.

The commission has been pretty clear about its policy for adding extra safety measures.

If COVID-19 cases start to spike, the IGC will start adding a slew of new safety measures, or they could shut casinos down again entirely. Specifically, confirmed cases at casinos, rather than in the state as a whole, could trigger more changes.

When Indiana casinos have a confirmed case of COVID-19 on the property, they have to report it to the IGC. If that starts happening more often, then expect some changes to come along with it.

That may lead to the IGC requiring casinos to install things like glass barriers to help promote social distancing. Barriers like that have been a requirement for casinos in other states, but not in Indiana.

So while a mask requirement might only be at Caesars properties right now in Indiana, other casinos throughout the state may decide to add one as well. Other new safety requirements may be coming as well in the future.

Jake Garza Avatar
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Jake Garza

Jake Garza is a US Gambling Industry Analyst for Catena Media. He specializes in Midwest sports betting and casino content. Prior to covering the legal gambling industry, he spent time as a professional sports writer, reporting on teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers. Garza is currently working as a Managing Editor for PlayIndiana and PlayOhio, with previous stops at other well-known brands such as PlayIllinois and PlayMichigan. He has been covering the gambling industry since 2019, and currently works with a team of other journalists to provide comprehensive coverage of the legal U.S. gambling industry.

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