Cincinnati Casino Closed
Hard Rock International and VICI Properties completed this past Friday the purchase of JACK Cincinnati Casino in a $745 million deal. Simultaneously with closing the transaction, the two companies entered into a triple-net lease agreement that will see Hard Rock lease the casino complex for $42.75 million a year for an initial 15-year term with the option for four five-year extensions. River Bend Casino and Hotel brings you great entertainment, gaming and dining in Wyandotte, Oklahoma. We offer live music, casual and elevated dining, over 800 top-of-the-line slot machines, table game favorites, billiards, shuffleboard and bowling lanes, as well as 92 luxury hotel rooms and suites.
Cincinnati's casino will close next month for rebranding. Horseshoe Casino will reopen as JACK Cincinnati Casino, now that control of the business is changing hands.
A spokeswoman for JACK Entertainment says the casino in Cleveland will close for about 40 hours next week as the Horseshoe name and logo are removed from the building. Gayle Joseph says Cincinnati's casino will also close, but it's not clear for how long. She says the length of the closure will depend on how long the transition in Cleveland takes.
The closure in Cincinnati is tentatively planned for the second week in June.
Rock Gaming, now JACK Entertainment, bought out Caesars' stake in the two casinos and two racinos, including Turfway Park in Florence, last November and announced the name changes in February. At that time, JACK Entertainment CEO Matt Cullen told WVXU the name change would be accompanied by a new member rewards program, new games, and new menus.
Update: Jack Casino says it will close at midnight tonight.
After a day of debating the text of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's ban on businesses that draw 'public gatherings' of more than 100 people, Cincinnati's Downtown casino has reversed course and decided to close temporarily.
Initially, casino officials believed an exemption to the ban for some retailers applied to casinos as well. Ohio officials said no.
Jack Casino Cincinnati's statement issued late Friday night:
'Although JACK Casino Cincinnati has no reports of presumptive or positive cases of coronavirus/COVID-10, in compliance with the requirements of the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-01-D and the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), regulators of Ohio’s four casinos, we will temporarily be closed effective midnight tonight due to growing concerns around the coronavirus/COVID-19.
© Albert Cesare / The Enquirer A view of the front entrance of JACK Cincinnati Casino on Friday, March 13, 2020, in Cincinnati.'Our highest priority is always the health and safety of our team members and guests. We have implemented a number of measures to help provide a safe and comfortable environment to our guests and team members, including enhanced cleaning protocols by our team members who have worked diligently around the clock sanitizing all surfaces throughout the complex. We are also in the process of communicating with guests and team members and introducing enhanced team member benefits during this time of temporary closure.
'We wish to thank our team members who continue to deliver exemplary service to our guests. We are also grateful to all healthcare personnel and public health authorities who are helping to stop the spread of this virus. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely and look forward to reopening again soon.'
Ohio racinos at horsetracks appeared to be following the order too:
Following guidance from the State of Ohio Dir of Health & Gov DeWine in regards to the Coronavirus/COVID-19, MVG is closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please continue to follow MVG’s website & social media for updates as they become available. pic.twitter.com/V1WcpA0bCT
— Miami Valley Gaming (@MVGOHIO) March 14, 2020In an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and in compliance with the Ohio Dept. of Health, @BelterraPark will be closing Fri., Mar. 13 at 12 am. This will impact the entire property. We will provide updates as they are available. Click for more info: https://t.co/mB4Nksu2M9pic.twitter.com/M0c917cjJw
— BelterraPark (@BelterraPark) March 14, 2020Ohio Lottery Commission has ordered racinos, including @EldoradoScioto, to close. Well, they could stay open and admit no more than 99 people at a time. That ain't happening. State racino cut goes to schools, so ...
— Randy Ludlow (@RandyLudlow) March 14, 2020
Previous story:
Ohio officials moved closer to shutting the Jack Casino in Cincinnati and three others around the state on Friday amid efforts to fight the new coronavirus.
On Thursday, Gov. Mike DeWine ordered a ban on public gatherings, such as theaters, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The ban barred businesses that foster crowds of 100 or more in a single room but exempted supermarkets and other retail stores.
Casinos, which were not explicitly mentioned in the order, claimed the retail exemption to continue operating – even as the governor's office warned they are not covered by the exemption. On Friday, DeWine's office referred the issue to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which warned casinos to comply with the order.
'(The commission) today instructed Ohio’s four casinos – Jack
Cleveland Casino, Jack Cincinnati Casino, Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo – to immediately comply with the directive issued by Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health,' the agency said in a statement Friday.
[ This story is being provided for free to our readers during the new coronavirus outbreak. Consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Enquirer at cincinnati.com/subscribe. ]
Cincinnati Casino Closed Today
One casino, the Hollywood Columbus, appeared to be complying with the order.
Cincinnati Casino Closed Sign
While there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Hollywood Casino Columbus under Executive Order of Gov DeWine the facility is temporarily closed. Please see https://t.co/ULkgpkalMo for further information regarding any postponements or cancellations of promotions & events
— Hollywood Columbus (@HollywoodCbus) March 14, 2020The commission gave the casinos until midnight to comply and submit a plan to maintain compliance. There was just a crack of wiggle room: the agency did not explicitly tell the casinos to shut down, suggesting they might be able to remain open if they admit less than 100 people per room – a challenge because most of them have wide-open gambling floor plans.
'The Commission continues to monitor the COVID‐19 situation, and may take additional actions if needed,' the agency concluded.
The Enquirer will update this story.
For the latest on Cincinnati business, P&G, Kroger and Fifth Third Bank, follow @alexcoolidge on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Coronavirus UPDATE: Jack Casino in Cincinnati: We're closing at midnight as ordered by Gov. DeWine