The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which owns the two casinos, voluntarily closed Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, the Slot Palace & Bingo Hall and Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel on March 16. In March, 2020 Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel and The Slot Palace & Bingo Hall voluntarily closed for an initial two-week period following Governor Whitmer.

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI — Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe officials have announced plans to reopen the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant and Saganing Eagles Landing Casino near Standish to the general public on Monday, June 1.

The reopenings come before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-home order expires June 12, but with a variety of safety precautions in place meant to protect employees and guests.

New safety measures and policies at the casinos will include face masks, a smoking ban and temperature checks at entrances with either infrared cameras or no-contact thermometers.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which owns the two casinos, voluntarily closed Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, the Slot Palace & Bingo Hall and Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel on March 16 to support efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. The facilities are scheduled to reopen to invited guests only at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 29, and to the general public at 8 a.m. Monday, June 1.

Officials announced the plans Tuesday evening, May 26, via the Soaring Eagle Facebook page and Saganing Eagles Landing Facebook page. Hundreds of people commented, offering mixed reactions. Some celebrated the new policies, while others said they won’t return because of them.

The openings will coincide with “a comprehensive health and sanitation plan in place and with some amenities to reopen at later, undetermined dates,' according to officials. At Soaring Eagle, those amenities opening later include a buffet, valet and shuttle services, coat check, spa and salon, pool and hot tub areas, poker games, tour bus groups, concerts and more. At Saganing Eagles Landing, amenities opening later include shuttle service, coat check, pool and fitness center.

When facilities reopen, all team members and guests are required to wear masks. If a guest arrives without a mask, one will be provided. Smoking is not allowed.

Other precautions outlined in the release include:

Temperature checks with infrared cameras at primary entrances and with no-contact thermometers at secondary entrances

Plexiglas partitions in “appropriate interactive areas”

Additional hand sanitizer available to employees and guests

Increased surface sanitation

Gaming chips sanitized regularly

Playing cards replaced more frequently

Markers on the floor to promote 6-foot social distancing where lines may form

Fewer tables in restaurants

Employees serving drinks to guests at self-service drink stations

Every other slot machine turned off

Reduced seating at game tables and modified bingo seating

Team members required to regularly wash or sanitize their hands and to stay home if not feeling well and guests encouraged to do so

These aren’t the only casinos reopening in the coming week. FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek is also slated to reopen on June 1. And Leelanau Sands Casino and Lodge and Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel near Traverse City have announced plans to reopen on May 29.

As of Tuesday, COVID-19 had sickened more than 55,000 people and killed 5,266 in Michigan. For more statewide data, visit MLive’s coronavirus data page, here.

COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

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Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

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