To protect customers and staff from transmitting the coronavirus, a number of social distancing and disinfection measures are in place inside Harrah’s Philadelphia and other casinos. Harrah’s Philadelphia General Manager Chris Albrecht speaks at the reopening of Harrah’s Philadelphia casino in Chester. It’s a relief to be back at work, Harkins said, even though she feels apprehensive about the health risks.

“It’s a new normal,” said Vanessa Harkins, an entertainer on hand wearing glittering high heels, a shimmering two-piece costume, a feather crown, and a bejeweled protective face mask. But just because the gambling halls are open doesn’t mean they’re operating like they used to. That both he and the dealer had half their faces hidden under protective masks did not faze Mills, one of hundreds of people who streamed into Harrah’s Philadelphia in the hour after it reopened its doors Friday morning in Chester.Ĭasinos across Pennsylvania have been reopening this month, and all but one are set to resume operations by next week. He’s subsisted on low-stakes online poker games, “just for some action.” But since the state ordered casinos to shut down in March to prevent coronavirus spread, he’s had no comparable outlet. “I used to come here four days a week,” he said. WHYY thanks our sponsors - become a WHYY sponsor

Harrah's casino hours