“They need to close that place,” said Millie Conard of Tampa, who goes to the casino to play slots about once a month. On Monday, a couple of patrons said they think the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa should follow the lead of other businesses.
Meanwhile, casino operations have been suspended or curtailed in Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. The Los Angeles Times reported that companies that own more than a dozen hotels and casinos in Las Vegas announced they were closing for two weeks starting Tuesday. Centers for Disease Control recommended that gatherings of 50 or more people be suspended or cancelled. The company said turning off slot machines aims to create social distancing between players.
The steps follow Seminole Hard Rock Tampa decisions last week to postpone concerts, shows and pool parties at the casino near Interstate 4 east of Tampa because of the spread of the coronavirus.
