I dropped by today. Although I was "invited" through a postcard and email and registered to show up at a certain time, receiving a QR code I was supposed to bring, they didn't care about that and just let me in after showing my ID and asking me to briefly lifting up my mask.
Unlike a lot of casinos that check temperatures, they didn't, at least not tonight. Another COVID rule was that you had to be eating to drink a beer and at a table so I ate a California Roll in the Center Bar in order to sit and drink a Mango beer.
I get the feeling anyone can show up which made my signup pretty pointless. I also thought I might get some chachkis or a nickel tour but really I was just among the first people to step inside the casino that was mostly open and running, albeit on a smaller scale due to the smaller amount of people who were there and COVID issues (no bars were open outside of food places which was likely the latter).
I wandered to the poker room and it was desolate - the area around the podium was empty, there were no chips in any wells. Every table in the expansive room was outfitted with plexiglass for 7-handed action. It was a big room, lots of space between tables, nice carpet and big comfortable chairs. Everything brand new of course.
Security people got twitchy when I attempted to wander around the room. One guy was nice and let me but specifically said I couldn't take any photos. He said the room opened on Friday but could not tell me what time or if it was by invite only. Another security guy later on just said "this isn't open" and was very nice while ushering me away.
They wanted me to sign up for a Live! card. I have one from when I have played at Maryland Live! so if they have any signup bonuses, I wouldn't have qualified. They are doing a tier match but I wasn't playing much even before COVID so I could not take advantage of this (and having a card already might have made it so I didn't qualify, who knows).
On the way out I asked who I could ask some poker questions to and was pointed to a gentleman nearby. He confirmed Friday is when poker starts but could not say a time. He also confirmed that anyone could come out, no need for an invite. I had other questions such as whether there would be complimentary alcohol for players but I had a feeling he wouldn't know so I headed out.
I work Friday evening so I cannot make it out on opening day which is a shame but I am hopeful I can get away sometime over the weekend or next week. With Harrah's closing their poker room permanently, Live! is closer to me than anyone else, even Rivers. If the room is as well run as I expect having played at Maryland Live! and knowing some of the people opening the room, it will likely become my main choice - unless they hire me to deal a couple days a week.