CRIPPLE CREEK — Casinos across the state remain closed with no timetable yet to reopen. However, they're working hard to make sure gaming floors are clean and safe for when players finally return.
We spoke with Wildwood Casino on the new safety practices its working on implementing. When players once again enter the doors of the casino, the machines and tables will still be there, but people should be prepared for some big changes.
"We don't know what the state's going to give us for guidelines or restrictions or anything, so I think we're just taking the first step to say this is what we're going to do," General Manager Matt Andrighetti said.
When people finally do return to the casino, "employees, customers, when you come in there's going to be a symptom check, a screening," said Andrighetti. He also shared that there will be an obvious increase in sanitation and cleaning.
"We will have specific teams for Wildwood walking around. Their sole purpose is to clean machines, clean tables, high-touch point areas like elevators, rails."
They'll get some help from technology the casino is installing. One example - lights that have been attached to machines which are located where a players card goes.
"When you pull out your player's card, turn the light on, it shines fairly brightly. One of our clean team will be alert. They can come up and disinfect the area, clean the screens, the buttons, the handles, the seats, the seat backs," Andrighetti said.
The casino has also invested in UV technology.
"We'll have handheld units that you can walk around and disinfect surfaces," Andrighetti said.
The technology will also be used in elevators.
The idea is that "when the elevator is empty the ultraviolet will actually engage and disinfect the elevator while it's being emptied so that they're constantly being cleaned."
When it comes to social distancing, Andrighetti shared that unless you're in a group or from the same household "we're going to put a policy in where we're going to mandate that at least one seat in between each machine be maintained empty...it's one of those new normal things that will become part of everyday life."
We're told if you're playing a table game tables will be spread out and you will have to wear a mask. For everywhere else in the casino it will be a suggestion and if you don't have a mask one will be provided for you.
