Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), the company famous with the race tracks it operates and the Kentucky Derby, announced it will re-open five of its land-based gaming facilities across the states. The racetrack operator that also runs 10 US casinos said it will reopen its Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania properties.

Venues in 5 Other States to Join CDI’s Casinos in Mississippi

CDI’s casinos will begin re-opening effective June 12, starting with Calder Casino in Miami Gardens, Florida and Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin in Farmington, Pennsylvania, with the reopening process stretching throughout the following seven days. Following its decision last month to resume operations at its 12 off-track betting locations in Louisiana, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans will re-open its doors for visitors a day after, June 13.

June 19, Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin, Maryland and Miami Valley Gaming in Lebanon, Ohio will re-open too, making the total number of casino properties to resume operations 7. In May, CDI re-opened its two gaming properties in Mississippi, Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa and Riverwalk Casino Hotel. In addition to the 7 casinos, last week CDI decided to re-open its historic racing machine property in Louisville, Kentucky, Derby City Gaming.

“With these five anticipated property reopenings, CDI will have seven of our ten gaming properties, as well as Derby City Gaming, back in operation across the country. We are grateful to our teams who have ensured smooth, safe and successful reopenings over the past month and to our returning guests who have enthusiastically adapted to new protocols.”

Bill Carstanjen, CEO, CDI

Capacity Restrictions and Safety Measures

Each of the re-opened gaming properties will operate in compliance with state and local requirements regarding capacity restrictions, physical distancing, personal protection and enhanced cleaning protocols. CDI’s casinos will implement and practice “CDI 360 Degree Approach to Safety”, a list of measures to ensure a safer environment in the properties.

Mandatory temperature checks for both clients and employees before entering the facilities, plexiglass or polycarbonate dividers for areas of high touch transactions, visual aids to assist maintaining the physical distance among visitors, hand sanitizer dispensers and sanitary wipes placed throughout the properties, and increased cleaning and sanitizing frequency of all high touch surfaces, all aimed at alleviating fears of virus transmission and ensuring guests the time spent while having fun will not pose a health risk for them.

The re-opening of CDI’s properties should provide a much needed boost for the company which reported in May its Q1 revenues dropped, resulting into net loss compared to profit for the same quarter the year before.