Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun reopen Connecticut casinos.

Foxwoods – the second largest casino in the country – checked the temperature of every visitor to the Mashantucket location with a non-invasive machine to ensure that only those with temperatures below 100,4 degrees (38 Celsius) could enter.

Meanwhile, each table game has only three chairs, with acrylic separating the dealer from the players. The acrylic is even more extensive on the craps tables (see photo) – a game that is particularly potentially problematic nowadays.

Casino cleaners were in full swing midday, spraying the only available slot machines with disinfectant as customers moved to another part of the casino.

In the slot machine areas, players were spaced out according to the recommended social distancing protocol, maintaining a distance of six feet.

Mohegan Sun gentler

At the neighboring Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, there were no temperature checks in sight.

There was also much less acrylic, and craps (dice) players and slot machine players were sometimes less than six feet apart. The vibe was also a little different, with some craps players reminding strangers of memorable past experiences playing the game at that casino. In other words, a more familiar craps table vibe.

One common point, however, was crucial: not only were protective masks mandatory, they were used almost universally – and with the masks covering both the nose and mouth.

This became typical behavior in the tri-state region, which bore the brunt of the more than 100 pandemic-related deaths in the U.S. The only offenses on this front were patrons drinking in bars – and even there, masks were simply standard practice between sips or bites.

Small crowds, no lines.

Each casino – both located about 250 kilometers north of midtown Manhattan – opened to only about 25% of its maximum capacity. There were no lines to get in – a common feature at newly reopened casinos in the west – at either casino midday (although there were reportedly dozens of cars lined up for the morning reopening).

At Foxwoods, a walk through the retail section of Tanger Outlets revealed that most stores were closed. The few that were open, such as Uggs or Forever 21, didn't appear to have any customers.

The Centrale Casino section of the Fox Tower was completely closed, forcing a several-minute walk and the use of two escalators to reach the open casino space.

Both casinos offered a comforting refreshment: Dunkin' Donuts at Foxwoods and Krispy Kreme at Mohegan Sun.

The removed seats in all the other slot machines at Mohegan Sun seemed organic – no ominous tape on a machine or obvious evidence that those seats ever existed.

The governor's approval is not required.

Signs placed by state officials on Route 2 near Foxwoods warned drivers to “avoid large crowds” and “No gambling/health” – evidence of Governor Ned Lamont’s unhappiness with the reopenings.

But the Mashantucket Pequot tribal nation and the Mohegan tribe operate as sovereign nations, so Lamont's influence was limited to mere recommendations.

What was missing when it reopened? Valet parking, poker, bingo, keno, and buffets, among other standard offerings. There is also no legal sports betting in Connecticut.

There were two things: hand sanitizer and signs recommending its use.

The two casinos reported that 25 to 50% of their staff returned on Monday.

The reopening in Connecticut happened three days ahead of dozens of plans by iconic Las Vegas casinos to reopen in the early hours of Thursday morning (4). (With USBets – John Brennan )