No more all-night gambling for you, Massachusetts! Seeing a rise in Covid-19 cases, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has curtailed casino hours. They have to close by 9:30 p.m. until further notice. If you’re buying booze (essential for Election Night) or reefer, you also have to have your transaction wrapped up by 9:30 p.m. One retailer welcomed the moderation of Baker’s action, saying, “We have perishable produce and staff holding on by their fingernails.” Another two- to three-week shutdown would have been fatal to many businesses. It can also be expensive to stay open: A restaurateur who had a Coronavirus-positive result among her staff had to have everyone tested, a $12K cost.
Encore Boston Harbor responded by shutting down its hotel. Wynn Resorts said “The resort will adjust its operating hours to be in compliance with new regulations. We are currently analyzing the impacts of these new directives on our operations and are making adjustments accordingly.” (Similar sentiments were uttered at MGM Springfield.) Calling the Baker edict “another setback” for casinos, the Boston Globe elaborated, “The facilities are already facing limits on their capacity and the types of games they can offer, and the industry’s workforce has declined markedly over the past several months. Now, the casinos, which are designed as 24-hour attractions, will have to figure out new protocols to help them open and close securely each night.”
