• New Casino In Springfield Massachusetts
• New Casino In Springfield Massachusetts
• Mgm Casino In Springfield Mass
• Photos Of The New Casino In Springfield Mass

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has finally awarded the first casino construction license, giving it to the city of Springfield. MGM has been awarded the license and pledged to create approximately 2600 new construction jobs and 2350 full-time jobs that will benefit the local economy. During a remote public meeting, the five gaming commissioners adopted health and safety rules that Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino must meet in anticipation of the resumption of casino operations, scheduled for Phase 3 of the Commonwealth’s phased-in reopening plan.

MGM is betting big on Springfield with a 125,000-square-foot casino featuring 2,550 slots, 120 table games, a high-limit room and a poker room with 23 tables. It also has brought in celebrity chefs. Take the first look inside the $960 million complex set to open on Friday, August 24. (Don Treeger / The Republican). The grand opening of MGM Springfield is only days away. The 2 million-square-foot Main Street complex, which boasts games, restaurants, shops, a hotel, and other amenities, opens Friday.

Massachusetts’ three casinos — MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park — are working to reopen with Encore using June 29 as its target with the understanding that the date could change.

Each operator also told state regulators Thursday that they’ll need at least two weeks to reconfigure the gambling floor to spread out slot machines and ensure gamblers at table games are far enough away from each other to insure social distancing. Employees will also have to be brought back and retrained.

MGM Springfield stayed away from a specific target date, only saying it is working to welcome its guests.

And, as Massachusetts Gaming Commission Interim Executive Director Karen Wells said Thursday, two weeks from June 29 is just a few days from now, Monday June 15, giving the casinos just a few days to find out the specifics of how their operations will have to change in the COVID-19 environment. And Massachusetts Gaming Commissioners worked toward a reopening plan, but didn’t finalize it Thursday.

The commission’s focus is on social distancing, health, hygiene, safety and reporting measures for each casino.

The three casinos have been closed since March 15 with most employees furloughed.

Meanwhile casinos are opening up all over the country. In neighboring Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe reopened Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun at the beginning of this month. Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode island is open by invitation only.Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, New York, is still closed.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said Thursday it needs more guidance from the state about the need for six-foot distancing between slot machines and if that’s dependent on on other barriers being in place or if that distance can be lessened of other barriers are not in place.

Commissioners reached a consensus on requiring Plexiglas barriers for blackjack and for similar games, but stopped short of requiring the shields for poker, craps and roulette because the shields — common in groceries and retail locations — might prove too cumbersome to use effectively.

There was also much discussion of mask requirements and if hand sanitizer should be mandatory or just available. Commissioners discussed the dangers of handling cards and passing them back and fort.. What about chips handled and lost by one gambler getting paid out as winnings to the next gambler almost immediately?

“What we are trying to do is to layer as many provisions as are feasible in order to minimize the overall risk,” said commissioner Enrique Zuniga. “We are not going to bring down the risk to zero. Let’s face it. That’s true for every other industry. What we are left with is the workability of each precaution.”

Brian Gullbrants, president of Encore Boston Harbor, said said Encore’s already started making prepartions with plans to install barriers on all regular blackjack games but not on other games and not on the casino 's high roller games.

MGM Springfield executives said they’d planned to install Plexiglas at some, but no all games so it would be the patron’s choice whether to play with or without a barrier.

Even under the most strict rules under consideration by the commission, slot gaming positions at MGM Springfield would be reduced to 589 out of 1,768 before the restrictions. That would allow for two disabled machines between each operating machine.

Allowing for only one disable machine, MGM Springfield would have room for 884 slot players out of 1,768.

Slot capacity at Encore goes to 935 out of 2,804 with two disabled machines between each operating machine. It’s 1,402 out of 2,804 at Encore every other machine to be disabled.

Slot gaming positions at Plainridge are calculated at approx. 440 out of 1,320 allowing for two disabled machines between each operating machine. A six foot minimum distancing between slot machines allows for a total of approx. 385 slot positions. There is room for 660 out of 1,320, operating machines with which every other machine to be disabled, according to the gaming commission.

The commission is considering reducing the number of roulette players at MGM Springfield to 24 if there are three players maximum per roulette table but there could be as few as nine roulette players if there are just three allowed per row in order to keep them distanced.

There was also discussion about how how best to pay off winners. Should cash be counted into the hand? On to a table or surface?

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Timothy Sheehan, the city;'s chief development officer, said they’ve been kept up to date on MGM Springfield’s reopening plans.

Sheehan said MGM Springfield is working with an epidemiologists, making sure its precautions mesh with the latest science .

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(Western Mass News photo)

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Western Mass News took an exclusive first look at the new COVID-19 safety protocols inside MGM Springfield this morning.

The casino floor is full of social distancing signs, hand-washing stations, and Plexiglas stations to safely welcome guests back inside MGM Springfield.

MGM Springfield is just days away from welcoming guests back inside after coronavirus restrictions closed their doors for months.

“I think we’re all focused on reopening the right way which means building trust with our guests and with our team members partnering with our regulators, and I think we’ve done a wonderful job of that here,” said MGM Springfield’s President Chris Kelley.

Western Mass News took the first exclusive look inside the casino on Thursday, to see what guests can expect when they walk back in the doors.

New Casino In Springfield Massachusetts

There are handwashing stations, sanitizing sprays that can disinfect 3,000 square feet in minutes, plexiglass, and around 200 socially distanced slot machines up and running.

Poker, roulette, and craps will not be allowed, face coverings need to be worn, customers should not walk the floor with drinks, and restaurants are under a reduced capacity.

Kelley told Western Mass News they are grateful to be able to reopen and expect guests to follow the new protocols, and non-compliance will not be tolerated.

“If we have an issue with non-compliance, that guest will be asked to leave the property,” Kelley explained.

He said while the hotel will remain closed, public safety is their top priority.

“Today’s focus is on people and not profits and in the days ahead, will take a look at it and take a look at the signs and then make any future decisions using those guidelines,” Kelley said.

Officials told Western Mass News that over 680 employees will be welcomed back as part of the company’s phased approach.

“Many of our food and beverage team members have returned. Security and surveillance have already been on. Table games and some of our casino team members are coming back, and then of course support from a general and administration perspective,” said MGM Springfield’s Vice President of Human Resources Marikate Murren.

New Casino In Springfield Massachusetts

Mgm Casino In Springfield Mass

Murren told us her team members are ready to face this new normal.

Photos Of The New Casino In Springfield Mass

“It has been different, and I’ve been spending a lot of time with our team members and hearing what they’ve been going through,” she said. “What you see most different right is with masks, and we’re talking with masks. So they are excited to be back, they’re excited to meet and welcome our guests.”