Top Massachusetts Casinos Shut Down Amid Coronavirus Concerns

Wynn Resort’s Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Resorts International’s MGM Springfield and Penn National Gaming’s Plainridge Park Casino have closed their doors after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ordered its casinos to temporarily suspend operations in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement from MGM said its Massachusetts property will likely remain closed for at least 15 days.

“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,” Bill Hornbuckle, COO and President of MGM, said in a statement.

Encore Boston Harbor issued a statement that the company will continue to pay all full-time employees at this time “as it evaluates the impact of the temporary closure.” A limited number of employees and management will remain on site after the closure to secure, sanitise and maintain the property.

A statement from Penn National said the company will continue to pay the wages and benefits for the nearly 400 Massachusetts staff members at Plainridge Park “for the two week period.”

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said there are no immediate plans of shutting down Nevada casinos.

“We’re in constant contact with our resort operators, and they’re making individual decisions,” he said in a press conference.

But he said officials were “very concerned” about what an economic downturn from the rise of infections will do to the state. “We’re aware that we rely on gaming and sales taxes … and hopefully we’ll be able to weather the storm,” he added.