Jacobsen points out, temperature checks are not very useful for identifying people with COVID, since many who are infected don’t have high fevers even when their infections are contagious. After visiting a number of casinos in Southern California and Las Vegas, each property varies in terms of its willingness to follow health and safety protocols.Īs Dr. At the top of the list: how safe is it to be playing in casinos right now? How are playing cards and chips handled? The short answer: it depends. But a nagging question remained–by gambling during a pandemic, were we really just rolling the dice on our own safety?Īs we strolled around the casino floor at Fantasy Springs in Indio, we passed rows of socially-distanced slot machines and tables filled with players gazing anxiously at their cards. Although I was filled with trepidation, my curiosity reigned and I agreed to join her. Aware of my hesitation, she encouraged me to accompany her as she tried her luck at a couple of casinos in California’s Coachella Valley, just a two-hour drive away. I have to admit that I was nervous when my girlfriend Luna, a self-described enthusiastic gambler, recently brought up the idea of visiting a casino.
