Nyia Williams, 35, is a part-time virtual blackjack dealer at Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia. The 35-year-old North Philly native said she thinks the casino will be hopping when pandemic restrictions lift, but they are currently putting a damper on her excitement. Nyia Williams was training to operate a virtual blackjack table on Thursday. Management said they will pay all workers - it expects to hire about 2,000 when it’s fully operational - at least $12 an hour. It’s a positive ripple effect as we open.” “It is not just jobs - those go to grocery stores they dry clean their clothes. The longer that we wait to open, it’s less of an economic impact to our community,” Joyce said. When pressed on why casino management doesn’t simply wait until the pandemic abates to open, Cordish Gaming Chief Marketing Officer Jake Joyce said their schedule was driven by altruism: the casino has already hired about 1,200 people. In fact, much of the casino is currently laid out to prioritize the solo experience: slot machines are walled off by plastic guards, and gamers can play electronic versions of blackjack and roulette that minimize in-person interaction. In normal times, the casino and hotel could see thousands of people drinking, playing, eating, and carousing at once.īut it will open with far fewer than that initially, allowing no more than five people per 1,000 square feet in order to comply with Philadelphia’s pandemic restrictions. There are upscale options, as well as burger and taco restaurants operated by Guy Fieri. Hungry patrons can choose from a dozen eateries and bars. Televisions the size of movie theater screens play live sports.

The casino’s vast floor is stocked with more than 2,100 slot machines, 121 table games, and a dedicated poker room. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY) Built for thousands, casino pivots to solo experience Live! Hotel and Casino on Packer Avenue in South Philadelphia’s Stadium District. “While almost all other businesses are struggling just to keep their doors open we’re opening and creating new jobs,” he said.

Norton said he’s confident the facility’s temperature guns, plastic separators, air filters, and other safety measures will keep patrons safe. WHYY thanks our sponsors - become a WHYY sponsor

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