Massachusetts: Roulette players adjusting, casinos adapting in pandemic

Overall compliance with the commission’s COVID-19 safety guidelines among casinos and players “has been good, with no significant issues to report,” said Loretta Lillios, interim director of the commission’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. She said the number of people visiting Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor has remained stable and well below the occupancy caps imposed by the commission when it allowed casinos to reopen in July.

MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor jumped at the chance to reintroduce roulette to their gaming floors two weeks ago. MGM has three roulette tables open on weekdays and four wheels spinning on weekends, while Encore has 16 roulette tables up and running, IEB Assistant Director Bruce Band said. He said players are getting used to the pandemic-specific rules for the game.

“It’s been great,” Band said. “People are getting a little used to sitting at the table, but you really can’t place a bet unless you’re sitting because of the way the plexiglass is. So people are learning: if you want to play, you’ve got to sit.”

Last week, the Gaming Commission said PPC, MGM and Encore generated a cumulative $70.54 million in gross gaming revenue in September, which was 87% of the revenue generated in September 2019 with just 49% of gaming positions available. The state’s take for September of $20.02 million was lower than the $22.56 million full-month average since all three facilities have been in operation, but the state’s slots parlor and casinos are operating under capacity limits and other restrictions.

Also Thursday, Division of Community Affairs chief Joe Delaney told commissioners that PPC and Encore are up to date on their host and surrounding community payments, but that MGM Springfield is working with the city to catch up on a payment that had been deferred from April. Delaney said Springfield officials are confident that the payment will be made soon.

Colin A. Young, Metro West Daily News