“As a result, we informed our team members that their furloughs may be converted to a permanent layoff in the coming weeks or months.
“After thoroughly reevaluating our business in light of the ongoing pandemic, we wanted to communicate honestly and openly with our team members that it could be some time before all of our remaining properties are open, and that those properties that are open will unfortunately not require the same level of staffing due to limitations and restrictions placed on occupancy and offerings to create a safer environment,” Schippers said in an email. It temporarily suspended operations at all of its properties in mid-March after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and state gaming agencies ordered casinos to temporarily close.Įric Schippers Sr., a spokesman for Penn National Gaming, said that while it had been able to reopen some of its properties on a limited basis, “the continued social distancing requirements and uncertain business volumes means our properties will not be able to resume normal operations for the foreseeable future.”
Penn National Gaming furloughed 26,000 employees in April at 41 gaming and racing properties across 19 states.