Poker Returns to Atlantic City; Borgata Cash Games Begin Wednesday
One of the largest poker rooms in the United States is set to reopen this Wednesday after being closed since mid-March due to the pandemic. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey will open its doors at 10 a.m. local time, albeit with some changes.
The room, which previously housed 77 tables, will open with just 30 spaced-out tables, each with polycarbonate divides between each seat. Only seven-handed cash games will be offered as there are no plans for tournaments right now. However, players can expect some lucrative promotions including a Bad Beat Jackpot starting at $100,000.
Here are some other changes and procedures:
- Masks are required in the poker room (and other public areas in the casino)
- Beverage service is available
- Food will not be permitted in the poker room
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the room
- Spectators will not be allowed in the poker room
“We are happy to welcome back our loyal players as we reopen Atlantic City’s market-leading East Coast poker destination,” said Melonie Johnson, president and chief operating officer of Borgata.
She continued: “We have made some changes to enhance our guests’ experience and are excited to reintroduce live poker and the Borgata Poker brand more safely.”
While Borgata was the last casino to reopen in Atlantic City, it will be the first of the city’s poker rooms to welcome back players. It’s by far the busiest against the competition, which includes Harrah’s Atlantic City, Bally’s, Golden Nugget, and Tropicana. Over the past two years, the combined revenue from all five rooms has totaled approximately $28.5 million each year. In 2019, just shy of $18 million of that came from Borgata.
#BorgataAC's Poker Room REOPENS October 21 at 10AM. Poker play will be live cash games on seven-handed tables with… https://t.co/qZqvkiy8oW
— BorgataPoker (@BorgataPoker)