In March, California’s cardrooms voluntarily closed because of the Coronavirus. Now many are hoping to re-open following published guidance from the Governor’s office on June 5. A few cardrooms may be able to open as soon as June 12, and most other card rooms anticipate opening later in June or early July, subject to each county’s progress under the State’s Resilience Roadmap.
The re-opening of California card rooms will likely be accompanied by new regulations from the Gambling Control Commission, and written protocols designed to protect the health and safety of guests and employees. Not all plans will be the same. California cardrooms vary greatly in size and will be subject to different county public health orders.
But most people want to know what will the experience be like for customers?
Cardroom games will look different. Some games may be dealt face up so players don’t have to touch their cards. There may be plexiglass barriers between players or chairs removed. Back line wagering may be restricted. Short-handed poker games may be difficult to operate, so poker games will be impacted or may not open immediately. But some cardrooms may offer new popular tables games that are easier to operate under the new safety procedures.
The procedures will be subject to evolving public health orders and guidance, but at the beginning, new safety procedures may include many of the things that have been discussed publicly already, including temperature checks, using masks, hand washing and sanitizing, new cleaning procedures before a customer takes a seat, removing chairs or using plexiglass partitions between seats, and new procedures for signing up, waiting for a seat or using the cage.
