Beginning in January, gamblers in Philadelphia will soon need to show proof of vaccination to enter casinos in the city.
Mayor Jim Kenney announced that he would be implementing a vaccine mandate for any indoor venue that serves food. The two casinos that reside within the city limits, Rivers and Live!, will also need to comply with the mandate.
It marks one of the first times a U.S. casino will require a vaccine verification to place a bet inside. The 2021 World Series of Poker enacted a similar mandate for players, media, and spectators, but that only applied in the tournament area and not the entire Rio casino.
Philadelphia joins New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Seattle as the only cities in the country that have mandates similar to this one.
In New Orleans and Seattle, a negative test would negate any vaccine requirement needed to enter any of the area’s casinos or cardrooms. Los Angeles’ mandate doesn’t apply to its gaming facilities and the Bay Area gambling establishments don’t fall within the city limits, thus excluding those properties from the mandate as well.
There is a Resorts World in Queens, which is New York City’s only casino and is home to only electronic slot machines until the downstate gambling licenses are awarded. The property was originally not subject to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s mandate because it sat on state-owned land, but in November Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered that the property follow New York City’s mandate.
The two Philadelphia properties will be the first with casinos with a poker room that will be forced to comply with the new requirements.
Philadelphia’s mandate goes into effect on Jan. 3, but until Jan. 17, a negative test will still allow entry. After Jan. 17, proof of vaccination will be required to enter the buildings that are subject to the order.
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