MGC votes to keep casinos closed until June

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) says the state’s three casinos must remain shut until at least June 1.

US.- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has voted for the state’s three casinos to remain closed to the public until at least June 1.

The Commission voted unanimously to keep doors closed at all three properties due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

The MGC is also awaiting further instructions from state Governor Charles Baker and the Restart Advisory Board.

In a statement, MGC Chair, Cathy Judd-Stein, said: “In keeping with the latest mandate issued by the state, the Commission voted unanimously 5-0 via roll call to extend temporary closures of the state’s three casino properties.

“When we first decided to temporarily suspend operations at the state’s three gaming facilities, the Commission and our licensees held a shared view that public health was paramount to all other considerations. At the time, the urgent circumstances required us to move quickly and decisively.

“The timeline to reopen is still uncertain; however, our attention is now focused on developing a responsible restart plan and maximizing this time to establish guidelines, in coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders, including the three licensees, state and local leaders, and public health officials.”

The MGC has been trying to find a way for casinos to reopen over the past two months but is still yet to find a solution to operate safely.