NORTHWEST INDIANA - Northwest Indiana casinos are once again open after being shut down for three months due to the Coronavirus pandemic and visitors need patience to navigate the new system.
The Region's five gambling facilities opened Monday and visitors were faced with long lines from the road, in the parking garage and at the door, to be in compliance with state-mandated COVID-19 safety policies.
They also were given temperature checks, as required by the Indiana Gaming Commission to identify visitors with a fever, which can be a sign of COVID-19 infection.
Some visitors eventually gave up the long lines at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond and decided to spend their money another day.
The "Times" reports long lines were seen Monday morning at the Ameristar Casino in East Chicago, Majestic Star Casinos in Gary and the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, partly due to a new state requirement that casino security agents check the identification of every person entering the casino.
The Majestic Star provided everyone going into the casino a free "Care Kit" containing a face mask, miniature bottle of hand sanitizer and two latex finger coverings for pushing slot machine buttons.
The Majestic Star also took the step of installing curved plexiglass at table games to separate players from dealers.
The Horseshoe offered each visitor a free face mask. Under Gaming Commission regulations, all participants at table games are required to wear a mask.
