Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has announced the return of its land-based poker operations. 

The MGM Resorts operated property will reopen The Poker Room on 21 October, having closed its doors earlier this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

The Atlantic City resort will return with a host of new safety measures in a bid to protect both customers and employees, as announced by Melonie Johnson, president and COO of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. 

“We are happy to welcome back our loyal players as we reopen Atlantic City’s market-leading East Coast poker destination,” said Johnson. 

“We have made some changes to enhance our guest’s experience and are excited to reintroduce live poker and the Borgata Poker brand more safely.” 

Major changes include the presence of 30 socially distanced tables, with hand sanitising dispensers available throughout the room and masks required on entry. 

Casinos in New Jersey closed in mid-March, before reopening in early July, with the Borgata the last to reopen at the end of the month. 

But it is now the first poker room in Atlantic City to reopen, with the Tropicana, Harrah’s, Golden Nugget and WSOP Poker Room at Bally's all yet to announce plans to return.