1. In July, more than 4,100 workers received layoff notices, state records showed, including at Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Rivers Casino Resorts World Catskills and Resorts World New York City.
  2. With its 4,700 slot machines, Empire City, owned by MGM Resorts, is the largest private employer in Yonkers and is one of the largest gaming floors in the country. Resorts World Casino New York.
  3. New York has a ban on new casino licenses until 2023 to allow the four upstate ones to develop their businesses. Empire City and Resorts World in Queens have video-lottery terminals.

Empire City Casino reopened today, about six months after the Yonkers gambling hub was forced to shut down because of the coronavirus.

Future of Empire City. In Yonkers, transforming to a full casino would create thousands of high-quality jobs and new economic. In Yonkers, transforming to a full casino would create thousands of high-quality jobs and new economic opportunities in communities across New York. In fact, a recent. Reviews on Empire City Casino in Ozone Park, Queens, NY - Empire City Casino, Empire City Events, Resorts World Casino New York City, Citi Field, Empire City Dairy Milk Products, Empire City Renovati, Queens Museum.

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Empire City's doors reopeneed at 10 a.m. as it became the state's latest casino to resume operations after the pandemic. The casino can only operate at 25% capacity, in accordance with state guidelines.

The casino, owned by MGM Resorts, will operate under stringent modifications, including requiring all guests to wear masks, according to a reopening plan posted on its website. Patrons will also need to complete a health screening and have a temperature check before entry.

© Peter Carr/The Journal News Evelyn Garcia of The Bronx plays a slot machine on the first day of the reopening of the Empire City Casino in Yonkers Sept. 21, 2020.

Valet service and bar service won't be available and some machines won't be available to ensure social distancing.

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Live racing at Yonkers Raceway on the casino property resumed in June. Spectators are still prohibited from races and no on-site waging is allowed.

York© Peter Carr/The Journal News Ed Domingo, Empire City Casino SVP Operations and CFO on the gaming floor on the first day of the reopening of the casino Sept. 21, 2020.

Hand sanitizer dispensers and washing stations are located throughout the casino as are disinfecting wipes.

Empire City Casino Senior Vice President of Operations and CFO Ed Domingo called it an “unbelievable' feeling to have staff members and customers back. The top priority for the casino is to keep everyone healthy, he said.

“It was a long time coming here in Yonkers and Westchester County,” Domingo said.

Evelyn Garcia, of The Bronx, was one of the customers who came back Monday.

“I’ve been locked up for six months,” she said.

The casino, which is the largest private employer in Yonkers, furloughed about 1,000 workers in May as the virus kept Empire City's doors closed.

MGM CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle in a May 5 letter called the furloughs 'the most challenging period ever faced by our company and industry' and said he was unsure how many employees would return before the end of the year.

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The company has welcomed back more than half if its workforce for the reopening, a spokesperson told The Journal News/lohud.

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Empire Casino Queens New York Map

MGM Resorts bought Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway in early 2019 for $850 million.

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: With modifications in place, Empire City Casino reopens in Yonkers