{"id":129880,"date":"2020-03-14T11:25:30","date_gmt":"2020-03-14T18:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=129880"},"modified":"2020-03-16T09:38:01","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T16:38:01","slug":"encore-boston-harbor-four-other-new-england-casinos-close-as-coronavirus-spreads-in-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/encore-boston-harbor-four-other-new-england-casinos-close-as-coronavirus-spreads-in-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Encore Boston Harbor, Four Other New England Casinos Close as Coronavirus Spreads in Region"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three Massachusetts casinos will be shuttered for two or more weeks, and two Rhode Island gaming properties will close for at least a week in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The Encore Boston Harbor is one of five New England casinos which will close temporarily in response to the coronavirus outbreak. (Image: NECN)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Saturday, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted to close the Encore, as well as the MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino. The hotels and casinos will close this weekend.<\/p>\n

The decision was made in collaboration and cooperation with our licensees to safeguard the health and well-being of casino guests, employees, and regulators,\u201d the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said in a statement on Saturday.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It has been reported by the Boston Globe<\/em> that Utah Jazz basketball star Donovan Mitchell<\/a> went to the Encore on March 5, where he played in the high limit area of the gaming floor for about an hour. He later tested positive for coronavirus.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Massachusetts had 123 people test positive for COVID-19, according to news reports.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we all continue to navigate this unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation, our agency and our licensees will remain in close consultation with public health authorities and government officials to determine safe protocols for resuming operation,\u201d the commission statement adds. \u201cThis decision will be re-assessed in two weeks, while an orderly shutdown process is actively underway.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Massachusetts casinos will pay workers during the closure, MassLive <\/em>reported. Cleaning crews, security, and human resource staff will report to work during the two-week period.<\/p>\n

Rhode Island Casinos Close for Week<\/h2>\n

On Friday, a similar decision was made to close the Twin River casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton, Rhode Island. The two casinos will close for one week. Rhode Island, as of Saturday, has 20 coronavirus cases, news reports said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn consultation with the Rhode Island Department of Health \u2026 we have ordered the Twin River Casino and the Tiverton Casino to be closed to the public,\u201d Rhode Island Lottery Director Gerry Aubin said in a statement Friday.<\/p>\n

Most employees will not get paid during the week-long period, the Providence Journal<\/em> reported. \u201cImpacted employees will be eligible for unemployment benefits,\u201d the Journal quoted the state lottery statement.<\/p>\n

Cleaning crews and security staff are among the workers who will be at the casinos during the seven days.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe closure is anticipated to last one week, at which point the situation will be reassessed based on the most up-to-date data and guidance from the Rhode Island Department of Health,\u201d the lottery statement adds. \u201cOur top priority is the safety of Rhode Islanders.\u201d<\/p>\n

We sincerely regret any inconvenience to our customers,\u201d Marc Crisafulli, president of Twin River, was additionally quoted by the Journal<\/em>. \u201cHowever, the state\u2019s efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus are of paramount importance.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe believe this preventative approach is a necessary step to help ensure the health and safety of our employees, customers, and all Rhode Islanders.\u201d<\/p>\n

In nearby Connecticut, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resorts Casino remain open.<\/p>\n

Coronavirus Leads to Closings Nationwide<\/h2>\n

Elsewhere, other gaming properties are closing or are cutting back on operations. These include Ohio\u2019s MGM Northfield Park and MGM\u2019s Yonkers Raceway — where a long-time trainer and office worker died after contracting coronavirus.<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania\u2019s Valley Forge Casino Resort was temporarily closed by Boyd Gaming, and several other Pennsylvania casinos are also closing.<\/p>\n

The Wildhorse Resort & Casino<\/a> in Oregon closed for two days recently for a deep cleaning \u201cout of an abundance of caution\u201d after one of its workers was declared presumptive positive for COVID-19.<\/p>\n

The Illinois Gaming Board ordered each of the state\u2019s 10 casinos to close for two weeks, according to news reports.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, MGM has also revealed it is closing nightclubs and day clubs<\/a>. Spas and salons will close starting on Monday. Some 150 food and beverage venues will close on a rolling basis.<\/p>\n

An unspecified number of MGM workers\u2019 furloughs and layoffs will commence next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Three Massachusetts casinos will be shuttered for two or more weeks, and two Rhode Island gaming properties will close for at least a week in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. On Saturday, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted to close the Encore, as well as the MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino. The hotels and casinos […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":129883,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,18],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEncore Boston Harbor, Four Other New England Casinos Close<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Three Massachusetts casinos will be shuttered for two or more weeks. 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