In Massachusetts and regulators have reportedly released a number of re-opening requirements for the eastern state’s trio of casinos that are to see the venues prohibited from offering popular table games such as poker, craps and roulette.
According to a Tuesday report from The Republican newspaper, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ordered the Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino to shut on March 17 as the number of locals infected with the potentially-deadly ailment hit 217. Although no official re-opening date for the three casinos has yet been released, speculation purportedly abounds that the go-ahead could be given from as early as July 6 due to the fact that the rate of active coronavirus cases in ‘The Bay State’ has recently been falling.
Thorough thought:
The Republican reported that the five-member Massachusetts Gaming Commission unanimously approved the post-pandemic casino re-opening requirements yesterday following an almost two-hour meeting and weeks of preparations. The body purportedly detailed that the Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino will be allowed to begin welcoming patrons again only after they have satisfied all local, state and federal protocols and developed communications plans for informing guests about their coronavirus-related precautions.
Reduced capacity:
Alongside the aforementioned ban on table games, the re-opening guidelines also reportedly mandate that the three Massachusetts casinos be limited to 25% capacity and provide all guests and employees with hand sanitizer. The regulator moreover purportedly suggested that the venues conduct regular temperature checks before mandating that they create separate entry and exit points so as to avoid guest congestion.
Signage duty:
The newspaper reported that Massachusetts Gaming 
Commission’s re-opening conditions will furthermore oblige the casinos to implement social distancing measures by either installing tall plexiglass dividers between each slot or turning off every other unit and removing their chairs so as to create six-foot buffer zones. Venues are to additionally purportedly be compelled to thoroughly sanitize their games at least once every four hours and mount signs at entrances and other prominent locations reminding guests to wear protective face masks, regularly wash and sanitize their hands and return home if they are feeling unwell.
Gubernatorial prerogative:
Cathy Judd-Stein, Chair for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, reportedly told The Republican that the eastern state’s casinos will need between ten days and two weeks to ramp back up before re-opening although the final decision on when this may actually occur now rests in the hands of Governor Charlie Baker (pictured).
Judd-Stein reportedly told the newspaper…
“We wish our licensees great success when the re-opening is permitted. To each licensee, I thank you for your patience.”