Is Charlestown Casino Open Now
The Casino will be open from 8 a.m. We will close from 4 a.m. To sanitize and disinfect the facility. Entrance into the casino will end at 3:30 a.m. How do I enter the casino? Get menu, photos and location information for Final Cut - Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, WV. Or book now at one of our other 1329 great restaurants in Charles Town.
Masked patrons lined up outside Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort's main entrance Monday morning waiting for the casino to reopen after being closed for nearly two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith described the last two months as being 'very surreal,' during a news conference held prior to Monday's reopening.
'It has been a (financial) hit, for sure,' said Smith, who wore an Oaklawn-branded mask. 'It's a huge loss in revenue, loss in tax money to the state and the city, but you've got to do what you've got to do. These times are unprecedented times, but we're in a position now that hopefully we get back up and running and get things going; we've got a nice line out here and as long as we do it in a safe manner and people adhere to our protocols, we'll be in great shape.'
Smith said although being closed to patrons the past two months, Oaklawn was still able to hold its 2020 racing season without spectators, which allowed it to 'practice and perfect' safety protocols that will now be used in the casino.
'Over the last month we spent a lot of time creating a protocol and a reopening strategy that thankfully the governor and (Arkansas Department of Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith) approved, which allowed us to open today,' Wayne Smith said. 'As guests come in the building they're going to see a lot of different things.'
He said all guests will have to be masked, have their temperatures checked and present an ID upon entering the building through the main entrance.
'When they get on the floor they'll see a lot of signage,' Smith said. 'One of the main things that we are doing, which is different from what we've done in the past, (is) nonsmoking.'
In addition to these precautions, he said social distancing will also be practiced in the casino.
'They'll see lines on the floor, Plexiglas on the counters, things like that,' Smith said. 'It's going to be a little bit of an eye-opener. Casinos around the country are not opening with requiring masks for guests, but we believe it's the right thing to do right now.'
Oaklawn reopened at 33% of its capacity.
Hot Springs Fire Chief Ed Davis told The Sentinel-Record on May 13 that fire and building codes allow up to 7,165 people on the casino floor. At 33% capacity, that would allow around 2,364 people on the casino floor. That occupancy figure, however, only includes the casino, not restaurants or service areas associated with the restaurants, according to Davis. Those areas have their own occupancy ratings. The casino area is classified as an assembly occupancy.
Oaklawn Media Relations Manager Jennifer Hoyt said last week operating at a 33% capacity will allow the casino to 'social distance properly along the guidelines set forth by the governor.'
Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said on May 14 that regardless of the 33% operation capacity restriction for Oaklawn, he still thinks its opening will positively impact tourism numbers.
'We get a lot of questions about Oaklawn and when they are going to reopen, so that's very good news (that they are reopening) and hopefully we'll get them to 100% very soon, as well,' Arrison said.
Smith said city and county officials were part of the process of delivering the safety plan to the Arkansas Department of Health.
'As it was going through the process of the health department, reviewing our plan and improving it, (city officials) also were looking at it and they're comfortable with our plan and supportive of our plan.'
Ultimately, Smith said operating at 33% is 'fine' for them.
'We're not really worried about the number of people, quite honestly,' Smith said. 'What we want to make sure is that our facility and our guests and our team members are safe and everyone is doing it in a socially distant manner, so we're going to be monitoring it on that front.'
He said if they feel the casino is not handling social distancing appropriately, they will ultimately 'shut the doors' and wait for the pandemic to dissipate. However, he said if social distancing is conducted the 'right way,' there won't be 'many safer places than maybe a hospital in coming to Oaklawn.'
'We brought in all of our security folks ... to maintain the cleanliness of standards that we have and that we put into the plan,' Smith said. 'We also have all of our security, so a lot of our folks are going to be walking around. Quite honestly, every one of the team members who we brought back they are essentially going to have to be social distancing policing the floor. So I'd say it's a monumental task, but all of our team members are up for that task.'
Without knowing when Phase 2 will begin or what it will entail, Smith said he thinks masks, social distancing and temperature checks will be in the foreseeable future.
He said if Oaklawn has to continue to take precautions to the extent Phase 1 requires for a long period of time, they will, but they do not want to.
'Because one of the things we have implemented here is we don't have any entertainment through the month of June, we have no promotions through the month of June, so there's a lot of things that we would love to get back to doing,' Smith said. 'These buildings are built for entertainment and fun, so to the extent we could get back to that, that would be preferable, but we will follow whatever the guidelines are and we will likely exceed these guidelines.'
Oaklawn, in a news release last week, said it had submitted a plan to operate the casino and food and beverage outlets in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Arkansas Department of Health, which include the following:
• Adjusted casino hours will be 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. Friday through Saturday.
Is Charlestown Casino Open Now Today
• The main/front casino entrance will be the single entrance for guests.
• All guests and team members will be required to have noninvasive temperature checks as they enter the facility. Anyone presenting a temperature at or over 100 degrees will not be permitted inside the building.
• Guests will be asked to show ID upon entering should contact tracing be required.
• Guests will be required to wear masks at all times.
• Team members will wear masks at all times.
• Shuttle service will continue with limitations on the number of guests per shuttle.
• Guests will be limited to every other slot machine to ensure social distancing.
• Live blackjack games will be limited to every other seat and no more than three players per table.
• Live craps will be limited to three players per side of each table.
• Live roulette will not be opened at this time.
• Smoking will not be allowed anywhere inside the facility, including the casino.
Oaklawn also said it has continued to meet and exceed CDC and local/state health guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing protocols, including the following:
• The facility has undergone a series of deep cleanings in all areas.
• Oaklawn will increase the frequency of cleaning all public areas during the day.
• The casino will be electrostatically disinfected nightly when it is closed.
• Oaklawn has added additional hand sanitizing stations in all public and office areas.
• Prominently displayed signage regarding social distancing, health and hygiene for guests and team members throughout the property, porte cochère, shuttles and waiting areas.
• All team members will receive training on COVID-19 safety and sanitation protocols.
The Race & Sports Book room and kiosks will remain closed 'for the time being,' the release said.
Local on 05/19/2020
Hollywood Casino Charles Town is probably the closest taste of Las Vegas that West Virginia has to offer. The Charles Town casino is the largest of the five casinos located in the Mountain State.
Hollywood Casino is also the nearest West Virginia casino property to places like Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Residents of those cities and their surrounding areas can travel to Charles Town in less than an hour.
Awaiting them are a selection of 2,500 slot machines, table games, and year-round horse racing. The property also features several dining options, an entertainment venue, and the nearby Inn at Charles Town.
Gaming giant Penn National owns Hollywood Casino Charles Town. Its approaching purchase of Pinnacle Gaming will make the company one of the industry’s largest in the United States.
Hollywood Casino sports betting
Hollywood Casino became the first location in West Virginia gaming operator to offer sports betting. The sportsbook soft-launched on Aug. 30 and had its grand opening two days later.
The sportsbook features high-top tables, but plans are in the works for individual sections and lounge seating. The facility features 24 monitors that display odds, and enough 80-inch high definition televisions to fill 50 feet of wall space.
So far, Hollywood has been the most active sportsbook in the state. It has accepted the lion’s share of over $9.5 million in wagers.
From that $9.5 million, Hollywood has realized over $2.3 million in revenue. While that figure is not in the ballpark with a sports betting-crazy state like New Jersey, it is an encouraging start.
Even more encouraging is the fact that the handle numbers continue to grow each week. What began as less than $500,000 in wagers in West Virginia is now over $2.2 million per week.
Most of that is occurring at Hollywood Casino Charles Town.
Mobile sports betting
Betting online or via mobile devices is legal in West Virginia. Hollywood Casino partnered with DraftKings Sportsbook WV for its online sports betting platform. The online sports betting app went live on Aug. 28, 2019.
Hollywood’s strategic partner for retail sports betting is William Hill. It is not out of the realm of possibility that William Hill could also come online through its partnership with Hollywood.
Hollywood Casino Charles Town gambling and amenities
Hollywood Casino Charles Town has all of the trappings of a major casino in any locale. The casino offers its patrons almost every option that you might find in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or any other major casino hub.
Slots
There are over 2,500 slots on the casino floor. The slots range from hundreds of penny slots to big ticket items in the high limit area — some slots have minimum bets as high as $100.
Both reel and progressive slots dot the gaming space. There are also video poker and keno options.
Table games
Hollywood Casino Charles Town has 75 tables available for play. There are ten different games that patrons can choose. They are:
- Craps
- Roulette
- Three Card Poker
- Four Card Poker
- Texas Hold’em (the table game)
- Let It Ride
- Mini-Baccarat
- Pai Gow Poker
- Big Six Wheel
Poker
Hollywood has a 16-table poker room on site. The room is open 24 hours a day.
The room offers the following games for players:
- No-limit hold’em
- Limit hold’em
- Pot-limit Omaha
- Limit Omaha 8 or Better
- Pot-limit Omaha 8 or Better
The room offers tournaments five days a week. All tournaments have buy-ins between $135 and $225, and guarantees range from $2,000 and $5,000.
Racing
Hollywood Casino Charles Town began life as a horse racing facility. So, it’s fitting that you can still catch great racing action on the property. When horse betting online in West Virginia, bettors use the TVG horse betting app, as the online sportsbooks partnered with Hollywood Casino do not offer racing.
In fact, there is live racing year round. The races include the $1,250,000 Charles Town Classic, Race for the Ribbon, and West Virginia Breeders Classics.
There is also simulcast dog and horseracing from around the country at the track. Patrons can enjoy the races from the Skyline Terrace.
Dining
Including the aforementioned Skyline Terrace, there are five dining locations onsite. A sixth, The Eatery, should open sometime in fall 2018.
Dining options include 9 Dragons Asian cuisine and the Final Cut Steakhouse. There is also the Epic Buffet, which is essential to almost any successful casino resort.
Entertainment
Hollywood Casino Charles Town features a 1,200-seat Event Center that welcomes performers of all stripes. In September 2018, the casino will welcome former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno.
Is Charlestown Casino Open Now 2019
Is Charlestown Casino Open Now 2020
The property also offers the H Lounge for the full nightclub experience. Patrons can enjoy expertly-crafted cocktails while enjoying the best DJs of the northeastern United States.