Mexican Casinos Increase Capacity
After a long wait, casinos in the Nuevo León and Baja regions of Mexico have increased capacity and reopened, as of October 11. Authorities have also chosen to finally reopen some sites in La Paz and Los Cabos after serious requests from local industry leaders.
Health authorities have allowed casinos to increase capacity in Baja California and Nuevo Léon, Mexico. ©Nick Dunlap/Unsplash
The Long Wait is Over
After multiple lockdowns and a host of other restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, casinos across Mexico have suffered from shutdowns and uncertainty for nearly two years. The Health Safety Committee has decided at long last that several casino sites may reopen, in response to a decrease in virus infections.
Restrictions by State: Nuevo León
In Nuevo León, a state in Mexico’s northeastern area with the capital city of Monterrey, the Health Safety Committee has decided that casino capacities may increase from 70% to 75%. That is after new rules were rolled out for commercial activity throughout the region, allowing for great flexibility and capacity in many venues, not only for gambling halls.
Nuevo León’s Governor Samuel García Sepúlveda and the Secretary of State Health, Alma Rosa Marroquín were the ones to announce this news last week. Happily for gambling fans, but also for other commercial activity in the area, regulations will be much less restrictive from now on.
In a press conference, Governor García Sepúlveda declared that this step is an important one for reinvigorating the economy of the state, which has been so badly constrained during the pandemic time. As a result, casinos, bingo halls, stadiums, grocery stores, bowling alleys, bars, hotels, museums, riding clubs, and many other spaces for public gathering will all open to 75% capacity.
On the 5th of October, Governor García Sepúlveda — who only just took office — also announced that he aims to secure more vaccines for the region. His goal is to reach 80% immunization as quickly as possible.
All in all, these are major improvements given that not long ago, authorities in Nuevo León allowed an increase from just 40% to 70% capacity.
Los Cabos and La Paz
In Baja California, a state on Mexico’s northwestern edge, restrictive measures are also being lifted, allowing for gambling fans to return to casinos they have missed and encouraging tourists to return. Baja’s Health Safety Committee has established new rules for La Paz and Los Cabos, relating to the sanitary traffic light which has now reached the “one-green level.”
This new level allows for nightclubs to reopen, which under their definition also includes casinos and bars. These venues will have shorter opening hours and can remain open until 2 a.m. at the latest. Their capacity exceeds the state of Nuevo León with 80% of normal capacity allowed. They must also ensure 1.5 meters of distance between patrons. Masks will also be mandatory.
