State regulators have closed all three Massachusetts casinos for at least two weeks in hopes of slowing the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted unanimously on Saturday morning to close Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino as quickly as possible. Casino floors will close a few hours after midnight and hotels on Sunday.
“In coordination with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, MGM Springfield will temporarily close for the wellbeing of everyone in the community,” said MGM Chief Operating Officer and President Bill Hornbuckle, in a statement. “We sincerely regret the impact this will have on our employees, their families, and the community, but their health and safety is our number one concern.”
Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Saturday the decision to close, while difficult, was the only real option.
“I was not surprised by it,” Sarno said. “We’d been hearing from the gaming commission.”
He said the decision allows everyone to focus on stopping or slowing the spread of COVID-19. He knows businesses will suffer. He said his administration is seeking out any state or federal programs that will help small businesses.
The casinos agreed to pay employees during the forced shutdown. A staff comprised of cleaning crews, security and human resource workers will remain on property at all three locations.
The shutdown will last two weeks, or until at least Sunday, March 29, and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission plans to reassess the situation at that time.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission hosted a telephone, call-in meeting Saturday morning, hours after notifying the press. A consensus opinion to close state casinos for at least two weeks was apparent early in the call.
Commissioner Bruce Stebbins, a Springfield native, asked all three casinos to share any information they are sharing with staff. He also asked MGM Springfield president and chief operating officer Chris Kelley about tenant business at MGM Springfield, such as the movie theater.
Kelley said they are still in discussion with those businesses.
On Friday, Gov. Charlie Baker tightened restrictions on public gatherings statewide and signed an executive order allowing for remote meetings and suspending open meeting laws.
In Las Vegas, MGM Springfield owner MGM Resorts International began laying off staff Friday.
Ohio closed its casinos last week, including MGM Northfield Park.
In Pennsylvania, a state of emergency forced the shutdown of a casino in Valley Forge.
In January, Encore Boston Harbor recorded $48 million in gross gaming receipts; MGM Springfield took in $20.6 million in gaming revenue; and Plainridge Park reported nearly $11 million in slots revenue.
Management at all three properties said hotels will close at midnight Sunday after guests make other arrangement.
The exact time the casinos will close is unclear, with the discussion Saturday vacillating between midnight Saturday to Sunday or sometime in the early morning hours when fewer people would be there.
Law enforcement worries about dumping large numbers of people on the street at midnight.
In a statement posted on its website after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission shutdown, Encore Boston Harbor said “the health and welfare of our guests and employees has been our primary concern throughout this health crisis. Encore Boston Harbor has been operating in excess of the safety recommendations of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.”
Rival Connecticut casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resorts Casino, remain open but have taken other steps to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Comment on this story on MassLive’s Facebook page by clicking here, or by clicking on the embedded Facebook post: