Covid-19 had put severe restrictions on Atlantic City. But after almost a year, things are once again going back to normal little by little.
This Memorial Day on Friday, May 28, will be the first time since the pandemic that some people will be allowed to go mask-less inside establishments. But this freedom will only be allowed for those who are fully vaccinated. Establishments serving food and beverages and retails stores in New Jersey will also be exempted from social distancing protocols. But some minor Covid-19 safety guidelines will have to be followed in all indoor and outdoor facilities.
Atlantic City casinos are keen to utilize this gradual return to normalcy to revive their struggling financial health. All nine Atlantic City casinos are pulling out all stops to attract visitors for the Memorial Day weekend. CEO of the Ocean Casino Resort, Terry Glebocki, hopes that Memorial Day 2021 will be very different from the situation in 2020 when all Atlantic City casinos were completely shut down from March till June.
Casino income had taken a massive hit due to the pandemic, with profits falling by almost 80%. In 2019 the Atlantic City casinos had a gross profit of $ 594 million. But in 2020, this figure had fallen to just $117.5 million. The Spokesperson for Caesars Entertainment in Atlantic City has made public statements appreciating Gov. Murphy’s efforts to reduce restrictions and revive the casinos. All Atlantic City casinos are bringing back live entertainment and launching promotional events to draw in large crowds.
The New Jersey lawmakers believe that when the casinos of Atlantic City flourish, they also help other allied small businesses to thrive. CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey, Christina Renna, has said in a public statement that the re-opening of events and facilities at Atlantic City will act as a boost to the entire economy of Southern Jersey.
New Jersey is banking heavily on the Memorial Day weekend at Atlantic City to lead the way for the revival of an economy struggling from the after-effects of the pandemic.
