Oaklawn reopens with masks, temperature checks
Patrons wait in line for casino opening
Masked patrons lined up outside Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort’s main entrance Monday morning waiting for the casino to reopen after being closed for nearly two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith described the last two months as being “very surreal,” during a news conference held prior to Monday’s reopening.
“It has been a (financial) hit, for sure,” said Smith, who wore an Oaklawn-branded mask. “It’s a huge loss in revenue, loss in tax money to the state and the city, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. These times are unprecedented times, but we’re in a position now that hopefully we get back up and running and get things going; we’ve got a nice line out here and as long as we do it in a safe manner and people adhere to our protocols, we’ll be in great shape.”
Smith said although being closed to patrons the past two months, Oaklawn was still able to hold its 2020 racing season without spectators, which allowed it to “practice and
perfect” safety protocols that will now be used in the casino.
“Over the last month we spent a lot of time creating a protocol and a reopening strategy that thankfully the governor and (Arkansas Department of Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith) approved, which allowed us to open today,” Wayne Smith said. “As guests come in the building they’re going to see a lot of different things.”
He said all guests will have to be masked, have their temperatures checked and present an ID upon entering the building through the main entrance.
“When they get on the floor they’ll see a lot of signage,” Smith said. “One of the main things that we are doing, which is different from what we’ve done in the past, (is) nonsmoking.”
In addition to these precautions, he said social distancing will also be practiced in the casino.
“They’ll see lines on the floor, Plexiglas on the counters, things like that,” Smith said. “It’s going to be a little bit of an eye-opener. Casinos around the country are not opening with requiring masks for guests, but we believe it’s the right thing to do right now.”
Oaklawn reopened at 33% of its capacity.
Hot Springs Fire Chief Ed Davis told The Sentinel-Record on May 13 that fire and building codes allow up to 7,165 people on the casino floor. At 33% capacity, that would allow around 2,364 people on the casino floor. That occupancy figure, however, only includes the casino, not restaurants or service areas associated with the restaurants, according to Davis. Those areas have their own occupancy ratings. The casino area is classified as an assembly occupancy.
Oaklawn Media Relations Manager Jennifer Hoyt said last week operating at a 33% capacity will allow the casino to “social distance properly along the guidelines set forth by the governor.”
Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said on May 14 that regardless of the 33% operation capacity restriction for Oaklawn, he still thinks its opening will positively impact tourism numbers.
“We get a lot of questions about Oaklawn and when they are going to reopen, so that’s very good news (that they are reopening) and hopefully we’ll get them to 100% very soon, as well,” Arrison said.
Smith said city and county officials were part of the process of delivering the safety plan to the Arkansas Department of Health.
“As it was going through the process of the health department, reviewing our plan and improving it, (city officials) also were looking at it and they’re comfortable with our plan and supportive of our plan.”
Ultimately, Smith said operating at 33% is “fine” for them.
“We’re not really worried about the number of people, quite honestly,” Smith said. “What we want to make sure is that our facility and our guests and our team members are safe and everyone is doing it in a socially distant manner, so we’re going to be monitoring it on that front.”
He said if they feel the casino is not handling social distancing appropriately, they will ultimately “shut the doors” and wait for the pandemic to dissipate. However, he said if social distancing is conducted the “right way,” there won’t be “many safer places than maybe a hospital in coming to Oaklawn.”
“We brought in all of our security folks … to maintain the cleanliness of standards that we have and that we put into the plan,” Smith said. “We also have all of our security, so a lot of our folks are going to be walking around. Quite honestly, every one of the team members who we brought back they are essentially going to have to be social distancing policing the floor. So I’d say it’s a monumental task, but all of our team members are up for that task.”
Without knowing when Phase 2 will begin or what it will entail, Smith said he thinks masks, social distancing and temperature checks will be in the foreseeable future.
He said if Oaklawn has to continue to take precautions to the extent Phase 1 requires for a long period of time, they will, but they do not want to.
“Because one of the things we have implemented here is we don’t have any entertainment through the month of June, we have no promotions through the month of June, so there’s a lot of things that we would love to get back to doing,” Smith said. “These buildings are built for entertainment and fun, so to the extent we could get back to that, that would be preferable, but we will follow whatever the guidelines are and we will likely exceed these guidelines.”
Oaklawn, in a news release last week, said it had submitted a plan to operate the casino and food and beverage outlets in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Arkansas Department of Health, which include the following:
• Adjusted casino hours will be
9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. Friday through Saturday.
• The main/front casino entrance will be the single entrance for guests.
• All guests and team members will be required to have noninvasive temperature checks as they enter the facility. Anyone presenting a temperature at or over 100 degrees will not be permitted inside the building.
• Guests will be asked to show ID upon entering should contact tracing be required.
• Guests will be required to wear masks at all times.
• Team members will wear masks at all times.
• Shuttle service will continue with limitations on the number of guests per shuttle.
• Guests will be limited to every other slot machine to ensure social distancing.
• Live blackjack games will be limited to every other seat and no more than three players per table.
• Live craps will be limited to three players per side of each table.
• Live roulette will not be opened at this time.
• Smoking will not be allowed anywhere inside the facility, including the casino.
Oaklawn also said it has continued to meet and exceed CDC and local/state health guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing protocols, including the following:
• The facility has undergone a series of deep cleanings in all areas.
• Oaklawn will increase the frequency of cleaning all public areas during the day.
• The casino will be electrostatically disinfected nightly when it is closed.
• Oaklawn has added additional hand sanitizing stations in all public and office areas.
• Prominently displayed signage regarding social distancing, health and hygiene for guests and team members throughout the property, porte cochère, shuttles and waiting areas.
• All team members will receive training on COVID-19 safety and sanitation protocols.
The Race & Sports Book room and kiosks will remain closed “for the time being,” the release said.