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NATCHEZ — Magnolia Bluffs Casino is set to reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday and will operate under new COVID-19 guidelines issued on May 15 by the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

The guidelines limit casinos to 50% capacity and guests are asked to use hand sanitizer and are encouraged to wear masks.

“We need all of our valuable customers to have patience and more importantly understand that all of the guidelines we have in place are for their safety and our team members’ safety,” said Kevin Preston, co-owner of Magnolia Bluffs Casino. “Every person, whether team member or customer, will be asked six quick questions every time they enter the casino.”

Those questions are:

• Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
• Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath or sore throat?
• Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
• Have you had new loss of taste or smell?
• Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?
• Have you been tested for COVID-19 in the last 14 days?

Inside the Magnolia Bluffs Casino, as stated by the Mississippi Gaming Commission guidelines, the poker rooms will remain closed until further notice, slot machines will be turned off and or reconfigured with chairs removed to allow 6 feet separation between guests and three-chair maximum at each table.

“My only hope is that opening the casino will give people a little relief, some enjoyment and hopefully put a smile under their mask that we are back to hopefully some sense of normalcy, even though we have these important protocols during this first phase,” Preston said. “Therefore we ask that everyone coming down enjoy themselves, protect themselves and abide by our rules and protocols.”

Magnolia Bluffs Casino is set to reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday.