Photo courtesy of Elite Casinos

After closing temporarily for two months, Washington County’s biggest employer is set to reopen Monday. The Riverside Casino and Golf Resort is crafting their reopening strategies for June 1, which include increased cleaning and sanitization measures along with visitor restrictions. The facility’s spas, restaurants, shops, hotel, and more are slated to reopen with visitor capacity limitations in place. General Manager Dan Franz says they will find ways to socially distance patrons from each other and keep the good times rolling at the same time. Franz tells KCII News what it’s been like without the casino open, “I never would have imagined that we would have been shut down. We opened back on August 31 of 2006. Because we have a hotel and a 24-hour casino the doors are always open. When you get shut down, it’s just quiet. It’s very strange and uncomfortable. Now it’s just exciting to know that we have a date to open and we’re just ready to have our customers back.” Franz says the casino and their on-site sports betting facility, Elite Sportsbook, will officially open at 6 a.m. Monday. A maximum of 600 guests will be allowed on the casino floor at one time and they are asked to practice proper social distancing. Mask use will be strongly encouraged for incoming guests, but will not be required.