New York extends casino opening hours

After a drop in Covid-19 cases in New York, casinos have been permitted to extend their opening hours until 11pm.

US.- Casinos in New York are now able to stay open until 11pm after Governor Andrew Cuomo eased Covid-19 countermeasures in the state.

Along with casinos, the governor’s executive order also puts back the previous 10pm curfew by an hour for restaurants, bars, gyms and fitness centres, billiards halls and any other location with a State Liquor Authority licence.

Cuomo said: “Hospitalisations and the positivity rate continue to decline, and with the holiday surge now in our rear-view mirror, we must keep taking steps to further re-open the economy safely and responsibly.

“As we move forward, we will continue to follow the science and data and take these kinds of steps to help us finally return to normal,” he said.

Sports betting on the agenda in New York

Meanwhile, a bill has been introduced to legalise sports betting in the state in a bid to generate extra income amid the pandemic.

Operators would be permitted to operate two skins under their licences, a clause which marks a difference with a previous bill put forward in 2019, which is with the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee.