Encore Boston Harbor Opens With Safety Precautions After Coronavirus Shutdown
BOSTON (CBS) – More and more businesses are welcoming back customers across Massachusetts as the state is now in Phase 3 of its reopening plan. That list now includes Encore Boston Harbor.
The casino opened its doors at 9 a.m. on Sunday, about four months after closing due to coronavirus.
So what can you expect at the casino? Customers are going to be required to wear masks, and have their temperatures checked at the door.
Protective plastic dividers are set up between slot machines and between seats at gaming tables.
Capacity on the gaming floor will be limited to about half. Games, like poker, craps and roulette, are not going to be offered.
"They have to wear a mask to have a little fun and it's a small price to pay to have a great night," said Encore Boston Harbor President Brian Gullbrants.
Most of the property's restaurants will be open. Rooms in the hotel are available four days a week.
Patron Ryan Caldeira said, "It's just a precaution of opening up and being safe. It's going to come to an end sometime so I'm just trying to see how things are now because I know what it's like when it's normal."
"The turnout was really, really well," Gullbrants added. "We need to eventually get things going again, but we need to do it safely and this is just another step in that."
Despite the casino reopening, hundreds of employees are not returning to work yet.
MGM Springfield is set to open on Monday.