Poker Room COVID-19 Closures and Re-Openings Across the United States

In America, it looks as though we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the dark, dark tunnel that has been the coronavirus pandemic. With over 468 million vaccines having been delivered so far (over 13% of the population), entertainment venues are starting to get back to normal.

Over the course of the past year, poker players have largely been unable to play at land-based venues and some brick-and-mortar poker rooms are now beginning to open up. Across the states, on a fairly large scale, we’re seeing many cardrooms reopen – so, we thought we’d make a quick reference guide to let you know which venues have reopened and which remain closed, on a state-by-state basis.

In this list, most of the states have casinos listed that are re-opened. There are some exceptions, however, as California, Florida and Nevada have more casinos open than closed – so we’ve only listed the closures. 

Remember – social distancing and health & safety measures will be in place at most of these casinos. Unless otherwised stated, assume that masks are required at any poker room that you visit, and that there will be reduced table capacity.  If you are unsure, visit the casino’s website or call up the card room to find out exactly what precautions you need to take so that you don’t get turned away.

Arizona

In Arizona, casinos and poker rooms are permitted to be open, but the capacity is to be limited in order to ensure that social distancing can be enforced and various safety measures are in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. At venues like the Talking Stick Resort, plexiglass dividers have been installed, temperature checks are required upon entry and masks are required; hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the venues, as well.

Arkansas

Arkansas’s three poker rooms are still open amid the coronavirus pandemic. Throughout these venues, everyone is required to wear masks and encouraged to use the many hand sanitizing stations on the property. Social distancing is enforced, but there are no temperature checks required or plexiglass dividers between players.

California

In California, many poker rooms remain open. Most venues like Elsinore and Livermore have outdoor gaming facilities which include poker where you can play participate in poker games.At the moment, these are the California poker rooms that are temporarily closed:

• Tortoise Rock
• Pechanga Resort
• Turlock Poker Room
• The Deuce Lounge and Casino
• Sundowner Cardroom
• Eagle Mountain
• Casino Merced
• Aviator casino
• 19th Hole Casino
• Table Mountain
• Club One Casino
• Garlic City Casino
• Old Cayucos
• Players Casino
• Quechan Casino
• Bay 101
• Casino M8trix
• Oaks Card Club
• Parkwest Casino Sonoma
• Pete’s 881 Club
• Casino Pauma
• Harrah’s
• Jackson Rancheria
• Coyote Valley
• Blue Lake
• Cache Creek
• Casino Marysville
• Colusa Casino
• Diamond Mountain
• Feather Fakks
• Lucky 7
• Towers
• Win-River
• Rogelio’s
• Magnolia House
• FLB Entertainment Center

We’ll keep this list of temporary closures updated so check back here for updates to see if your local cardroom has been removed from the list and has, therefore, reopened.

Colorado

In Colorado, poker rooms have remain shut  throughout most of the pandemic. However, we are seeing more open their doors once again, and these are the first two card rooms in Colorado to re-open:

• Ameristar Casino Black Hawk
• Golden Gates Casino

Connecticut

In Connecticut, both of the state’s poker rooms are open – Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. Here, there is a maximum of 7 players per table and masks are required at all times. Spectators and food will not be permitted, and only cash games will be available until further notice.

Delaware

All of the poker rooms in Delaware remain closed.

Florida

Florida is one state where poker rooms have largely remained open. There are only a handful that are closed due to coronavirus:

• Gulfstream Park
• Miccosukee
• Resort
• The Casino @Dania Beach

The venues that have remained open have introduced a number of procedures to keep patrons and staff safe.

Georgia

The Little Kings and Queens Poker room is one of the only venues that hosts poker games in Georgia, and it is still open during the pandemic. Temperature checks are required, and masks must be worn throughout the venue.

Illinois

Across Illinois, there are currently no poker rooms open.

Indiana

In Indiana, just a few poker rooms are currently open:

• Four Winds South Bend
• Hollywood Casino
• Caesars

At these venues, new safety measures have been put in place. All staff must undergo health screenings while all guests must have their temperature checked before entering. Guests must wear masks at all times and, in the poker room, only seven players maximum are permitted at a table and guests will not be allowed.

Iowa

Across Iowa, a few cardrooms are currently open:

• Grand Falls Casino Resort
• Horseshow Casino Council Bluffs
• Riverside Casino
• Prairie Meadows

Tournaments in these venues have been suspended, and sanitation measures are in place. While face masks are required inside of these venues, it does not seem like there are any other social distancing measures being enforced at in Iowa poker rooms.

Kansas

In Kansas, just one poker room is currently open: Harrah’s Kansas City. At the casino, everyone is required to wear masks and social distancing has been enforced although it is not explicitly stated that there is a limit to the numbers of players at each table.

Louisiana

Two poker rooms are currently open in Louisiana: Coushatta and Harrah’s New Orleans. The latter has all of the same measures in place at the rest of the open Harrah’s venues across the country (masks required and social distancing) while Coushatta has the following measures in place:

• 7 player limit at tables
• Players and dealers are required to wear face coverings
• Hand sanitizer stations have been set up across the venue
• Cards are changed and sanitized every 24 hours

Maine

Maine’s only poker room, Hollywood Casino Bangor, remains closed at this time.

Maryland

All four of Maryland’s poker rooms are currently open. Masks are required and social distancing is in place, so fewer tables are in operation than normal. This also means that poker tournaments are suspected until further notice.

Massachusetts

Currently, both poker rooms in Massachusetts are closed.

Michigan

Michigan has one of the highest number of poker rooms in the United States. Currently, all casinos in this state are closed.

Minnesota

Of the 10 poker rooms in Minnesota, about half remain open. These are:

• Canterbury Park
• Cedars Lakes Casino Hotel
• Running Aces Casino & Racetrack
• Seven Clans Casino Warroad

At casinos across the state, guests are required to wear masks and temperatures will be checked upon entry. New cleaning procedures have been put in place to keep the venue sanitized, and safety shields have been put up at poker tables at which there is an 8-player limit.

Mississippi

In Mississippi, half of the state’s poker rooms are open. The venues that you can currently player poker at in this state are:

• Horseshoe Casino Tunica
• Ameristar Casino Vicksburg
• Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
• IP Casino Biloxi
• Pearl River Resort

In Mississippi casinos, casinos have been limited to 50% capacity and there will be guidelines to encourage guests to observe the 6-foot social distancing. Poker tables are limited to a certain number of players – for example, at the Ameristar Casino has limited its table to five players.

Missouri

In Missouri, these are the poker rooms that are currently open:

• Ameristar Casino St Charles
• Hollywood Casino St Louis
• Century Casino Cape Girardeau

All of the casinos in the state are following strict health and saftey plans to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Measures include health screening for staff, social distancing and mask requirements.

Montana

In Montana, a number of poker rooms have reopened to players. These are:

• Bug’z Bar and Casino
• Cat’s Paw Card Room
• Flamingo Lounge
• Montana Nugget Kalispell
• Poker Zone @ The Loading Zone
• Rodiron Poker Room
• The Poker Parlour at Gold Dust Casino
• The Silver Slipper

Nevada

Like California and Florida, Nevada now has more casinos that are open than are closed. So, here is a list of the casinos that are temporarily closed across the state:

• Eureka Casino Resort
• Pahrump Nugget Gambling Hall
• Stagecoach Casino
• Alamo Casino
• Boomtown Casino Reno
• Cactus Jack’s
• Nugget Carson, Reno and Fernley
• Club Cal Neva Poker Room
• Jackpot Crossing Casino
• Silver Legacy
• Red Lion
• Cactus Pete’s
• Skyline
• Sam’s Town
• Rio
• Palace Station
• Harrah’s Las Vegas
• Green Valley Ranch
• Binion’s

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, the vast majority of poker rooms are open. Only Aces & Eights and Speakeasy Casino have yet to reopen their doors.

New Jersey

Only two of the cardrooms in Atlantic City are open right now: Borgata and Harrah’s. At these venues, an number of new rules apply for poker players, such as:

• All players must wear masks
• Seating is limited to 7 players per table
• Polycarbonate barriers will be used on all activte poker tables
• Table changes are not permitted
• No spectators

New Mexico

The five cardrooms in New Mexico are temporarily closed during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

New York

In New York, all but one casino remain closed at this time – Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY.

North Carolina

North Carolina’s one poker room, Harrah’s Cherokee, is open at this time. Like all casinos owned by Ceasars, this venue follows a health and safety plan where social distancing measures are in place, masks are required and temperatures are taken upon entry.

North Dakota

Currently, no poker rooms are open in North Dakota.

Ohio

In Ohio, most of the big poker rooms are currently open. It took a while for these venues to reopen after casinos, but they are finally hosting poker rooms for players to enjoy.

• Ruggles Cincinnati
• Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
• Jack Cleveland
• Mansfield Gemini Poker Club
• Deep Stack Poker Room
• Hollywood Casino Columbus
• Shark Tank Poker Club

In venues like the Hollywood Casino, social distancing will limit capacity at table games and poker tables. All guests will be required to wear face masks.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has also seen a number of poker room reopenings. These are the venues where you can currently play cash games (tournaments remain suspended):

• Downstream Casino
• Choctaw Casino Pocola
• River Spirit Casino
• Grand Casino  Resort
• Choctaw Casino Durant
• Apache Casino Hotel

Oregon

About half of Oregan’s poker rooms have reopened. These are:

• Beach Poker Club
• Full House Poker
• Grants Pass Poker Room
• High Mountain Poker
• No Look Poker Club
• Kit Kat Club
• Rialto Pool Room
• Stadiums Sports Bar
• Portland Meadows
• The Club House
• Diamond Poker Club

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, these are the poker rooms that are open at this time:

• Mohegan Sun Pocono
• Mount Airy Casino
• Parx Casino
• Rivers Casino Philadelphia
• Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
• The Meadows Racetrack and Casino

Of these venues, the only one offering tournaments is the Mohegan Sun. The rest are cash games only.

At these venues, various safety precautions have been taken, including table game capacity reduction and in the addition of hand sanitizing stations. Plexiglass dividers are located in “transactional locations”, and temperature checks are required upon entry.

Rhode Island

The state’s one casino, the Twin River Casino, remains closed at this time.

South Dakota

There are three casinos in South Daktota that are currently open:

• Saloon No. 10
• Cadillac Jack’s
• Silverado

Texas

Across the state of Texas, poker rooms remain open – with the exception of Prime Time Social and Lions’ Poker Palace. While many of the venues have not published any information about their coronavirus safety precautions, some venues like Champions Social have outlined the measures they have enacted, including:

• Masks required by staff and players
• Temperature checks upon entry
• Cleaning of equipment whenever someone gets up or moves tables

Wisconsin

Currently, the majority of casinos in Wisconsin remain closed. The only venue open is Oneida Casino, but the poker room is still shut.

Virginia

Virginia’s one poker room, Pop’s Poker, is currently open. Here, only 8 players are permitted at 10-top tables. The website doesn’t mention face masks or sanitation, so it’s best to call up and ask.

West Virginia

All poker rooms in West Virginia are currently closed.

Wyoming

In Wyoming, two of the three poker rooms are open: 307 Poker and Garth & Katie’s. However, there is no information on safety precautions taken at these venues.