Two Detroit casinos planning to reopen poker rooms

Two Detroit casinos are reportedly making plans to reopen their poker rooms, one as early as this week. 

MotorCity Casino recently sent out an email to customers, saying "Detroit's best Poker Room reopens NEXT WEEK!" That mass mailing went out last week, so MotorCity plans to reopen this week, The Detroit News reports. In addition, a spokesman for Penn National Gaming, which operates Greektown Casino, said they are hoping the poker room is "back up in a few weeks."

A spokesperson of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, Mary Kay Bean, told that news website that the board would address poker once "one of the casinos indicates an interest in offering it." She said any plans must get board approval. "The casinos must follow (Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's) workplace safety executive order," Bean said. "And the MGCB must approve the casinos' plans on how social distancing and other health and safety requirements will be met. It is the same approach used prior to the reopening of the casinos."

The third Detroit casino, MGM Grand Detroit, said it has no immediate plans to reopen its poker room.

Detroit's three casinos reopened in early August, amid strict health and safety guidelines. Casinos are limited to 15% capacity, every customer gets a temperature check upon entry, and hundreds of slot machines have been turned off for social distancing. 

Poker rooms have been open in Las Vegas for weeks, but with restrictions, including going five- or six-handed, max. Typically, poker tables allow for nine players. Some Vegas casinos recently started going eight-handed, with plexiglass dividers.