Osage Casino Ponca City Reopening
TULSA, Okla. — People lined up outside Osage Casino near downtown Tulsa Friday morning eager to take their chances on the slot machines.
Osage Casinos opened their Ponca City casino last Friday to test social distancing, and sanitation measures. They later decided to open the remaining six locations in Tulsa, Skiatook, Bartlesville. Photo caption: Osage Casinos to reopen Ponca City location on May 8. Pictured is the Osage Casinos gaming floor in Ponca City in 2015. Osage News File Photo. Osage Casinos will reopen its Ponca City location on Friday after closing in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
2 Works for You's Ashley Wheeler caught the video of the long lines.
Lines of people waiting to enter Osage Casino in Tulsa after its been closed for a month. @KJRH2HDpic.twitter.com/1ArSmEaz9c
— Ashley Wheeler (@AWheelerKJRH) May 15, 2020
Osage Casinos reopened six locations Friday morning after being closed over a month due to the pandemic.
Guests will notice some changes for social distancing. Electric gaming is available, but table games, hotels, and seated dining will remain closed until further notice.
Osage Casinos opened their Ponca City casino last Friday to test social distancing, and sanitation measures. They later decided to open the remaining six locations in Tulsa, Skiatook, Bartlesville, Hominy, Pawhuska, and Sand Springs.
For now, different locations will be open at different times.
- Hominy, Pawhuska, Bartlesville will open from 2 to 10 pm.
- Tulsa, Skiatook, and Sand Springs will open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday through Thursday 10 am to 2 pm.
Officials said they'll do everything possible to enforce social distancing by spacing out games and closing games that would cause guests to be in close contact with other guests. There are also hand sanitizer, masks, and gloves readily available.
2 Works for You talked to a spokesperson for the Hard Rock and River Spirit Casino about when the casino will open and they said it could be late May or early June. They have plans moving forward with both casinos to release in the coming weeks.
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sage Casinos will Oreopen its Ponca City location on Friday after closing in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Osage Casinos in Tulsa, Sand Springs, Bartlesville, Skiatook, Hominy and Pawhuska will reopen on May 15, but not without new strict health guidelines.
“Properties will reopen with occupancy restriction, only one entrance and exit will be allowed, and security will monitor how many guests are allowed on the floor,” said Byron Bighorse, Osage Casinos CEO. “We will open the gaming floors only when we reopen. We are going to bring our hotels online after we open, and we can determine the demand. No food service at this time but we will offer pre-packaged beverage service. Self-service beverage stations will not be utilized until further notice. We will offer limited alcoholic beverages and we are working through our bar areas to determine safe distancing. No banquets or events until further notice.”
“I anticipate these coming back as soon as further public restrictions are lifted. Guests 65 and older will be recommended to shelter in place per the state and CDC recommendations. Guests will enter the facilities at their own risk as this virus is not going away and we will all be on safety protocols until further notice,” he said.
The reopening will be guided by a 13-page “Health & Sanitation Program” that closely monitors government policy changes, CDC guidelines, government mandates and public health advancements, he said. Casino management will continue to make changes as necessary or appropriate to the protocols as they monitor the casinos.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, as of May 7, Osage County has seven active cases of COVID-19 and Ponca City has three active cases.
Bighorse said as part of their reopening guidelines, all employees will be required to wear masks until further notice.
“Guests will be strongly encouraged to wear a mask and we will make them available, but we will not ask anyone to leave if they do not wear a mask,” he said.
“Every other machine will be turned off to promote social distancing. These are just some highlevel protocols that guests will see when they come to the properties.”
Osage Casino Ponca City Reopening Department
He said Osage Casinos officials are working with their regulators, the Osage Nation Gaming Commission, to ensure all compliance requirements are met and maintained.
The Ponca City Osage Casino will be open from 10 a.m. to midnight daily and until 2 a.m. on the weekends.
Osage Casino Ponca City Reopening Menu
The Tonkawa Hotel and Casino opened on May 1. First Council Casino opened on May 2.