MGC drafts stricter health and safety protocols for Massachusetts casinos set to reopen this July

After a?lengthy closure of operations?Massachusetts’ three casinos will?resume operations later this July?

The?Plainridge?Park,?located in Plainville, is the?first Massachusetts casino to reopen,?with reopening?scheduled on Wednesday (July 8),?followed by Encore Boston Harbor,?scheduled to reopen next Sunday (July 12), and then?MGM Springfield which will?resume operations on July 13, a day after the Encore Boston Harbor reopens.?The?reopening plan and dates are subject for?final approval by the MGC before operations resume.?

Encore Boston Harbor is a luxury resort and casino located in Everett, Massachusetts, and owned by Wynn Resorts.

The?three casinos could have reopened as?early?as Monday (July 5)?based on last week’s decision by the MGC,?but the casinos have yet?to?prepare?the safety requirements, guidelines?and other reopening efforts?and thus needed more time.?

Plainridge Park Casino is a harness racing track and slot machine parlor in Plainville, Massachusetts, owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has outlined?health and?safety protocols for the?casino?operators, such?as restricting the crowd to 25% capacity, ensuring?appropriate distancing among players and workers, implementing the use of face masks at all times, checking body temperatures with a non-invasive thermal scan?(with a temperature?no more than?100.4 will be permitted into the complex),?number of slot machines and table games?(with?Plexiglases?installed)?available to players will also be?restricted,?and there will be hand?sanitizer stations and hand wipes available for guests,?McGowan explained.?

MGM Springfield is a hotel and casino complex situated in the heart of Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, owned and operated by MGM Resorts International.

The MGC has?also?announced?that playing?poker, craps, or roulette, are strictly prohibited, as well as with the new rule – guests?carrying?drinks?with them from?point a to point b?– will be prohibited as?that would lead to a setting?that?resembles?a bar.??

Bars in?Massachusetts?cannot reopen until Phase Four of Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening schedule for the state’s businesses.?Restaurants have reopened?for?indoor and?outdoor dining in?the?Phase Two.?Phase Three commences on Monday (July 5)?and?Phase Four has yet to start.?

In a June 23 statement,?MGC Chair Cathy Judd-Stein?announced, “The MGC is working to ensure a safe and sustainable reopening, issuing guidelines … that will no doubt shift to reflect the changing public health data over time,”?

“We are confident that our three licensees will work in good faith to implement and enforce these measures” she added.?

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