Massachusetts gaming regulators are eradicating all COVID-19-induced restrictions on the Bay State’s gaming operators this weekend.
On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted 4-0 to take away the remaining restrictions. According to a report from the Berkshire Eagle, the transfer will permit the state’s two casinos and one slot parlor to return to regular pre-pandemic playing situations.
“We are really hoping that this is, again, a sustainable re-opening for you all and we wish you the very best and wish all the patrons and employees much health and safety,” stated Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairwoman Cathy Judd-Stein after the vote.
With the vote, all of the plexiglass dividers, limits of variety of gamers on the desk, and social distancing necessities can be eliminated. Unfortunately for poker gamers, neither the MGM Springfield nor Encore Boston Harbor have introduced that the poker rooms will reopen.
When regulators allowed Massachusetts casinos to start out working once more within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, they prohibited properties from spreading craps, roulette and poker, citing security considerations round social distancing and the touching of surfaces continuously utilized by all gamers and workers concerned.
In March, regulators relaxed a few of their mandates and allowed casinos to unfold these video games once more, however capped the variety of folks on the desk, together with the supplier, at 4. Executives at Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield stated that it might not be worthwhile to unfold poker video games that shorthanded.
Even with the restrictions now within the rearview mirror, poker gamers within the state might have to attend till 2022 earlier than the poker rooms are open once more.
“We’re continuing to monitor needs for poker and whether we will bring that back,” MGM Springfield Compliance Director Daniel Miller advised the Berkshire Eagle. “We too have decided to make a decision by or around December 31.”
Massachusetts isn’t the one state eradicating all restrictions. The Nevada Gaming Control Board introduced that it’s making the identical transfer and eradicating any remaining mandates on June 1.
