New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that casinos in the state will be allowed to reopen their doors to patrons effective Wednesday, September 9, 2020.

Although the casinos will be able to reopen to the public next week, Gov. Cuomo stated that the facilities will be permitted to operate at 25 per cent capacity and that enhanced ventilation systems must be installed.

In addition to the reduced capacity, ventilation requirements, and the use of masks, slot machine players have to sit six feet apart and physical barriers will have to be erected between guests that are seated at gaming tables.

"New Yorkers have done an extraordinary job - we flattened the curve in a way that no expert thought was possible," Cuomo has been quoted as saying. "We've made the determination that we can safely reopen casinos with enhanced air filtration and strict safety protocols including mandatory masks and social distancing. This is good news and the right next step in our data-driven, phased reopening which is working."

(With files from wibx950.com and wnbf.com)