SPRINGFIELD – MGM Springfield shifted its operations last weekend in accordance with updated guidance and regulations from Gov. Charlie Baker. As a result, the once 24-hour casino’s new operating hours are 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Baker announced tighter restrictions designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the Commonwealth on Nov. 2 that require entertainment venues, including gaming establishments, to shutter operations at 9:30 p.m. daily. At the time of the announcement, Baker indicated the state had seen a 300 percent increase in daily new cases and a 145 percent hike in daily COVID in-patient hospital counts.

In addition to the early closure of entertainment venues, additional orders included a prohibition on alcohol and adult-use marijuana sales after 9:30 p.m., mandatory mask-wearing in public, and a reduction in private gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors. The restrictions went into effect on Nov. 6 and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) updated its requirements for gaming establishments to reflect those changes during its Nov. 5 meeting.

“In accordance with Gov. Baker’s executive order, MGM Springfield will close every night no later than 9:30 p.m. starting this Friday,” Brian Ahern, director of media relations for MGM Resorts International, told Reminder Publishing on Nov. 5. “We are evaluating the impacts on operations. We are in this together and remain committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees and the overall wellbeing of the state.”

MGC members readily acknowledged the hardships the new regulations present and the gaming facilities themselves had not directly contributed to the spread of the virus in a substantial way.

MGC Chair Cathy Judd-Stein noted that the governor recognized that entertainment venues, including the casinos, have been “doing their job” in ensuring public health and safety, but data suggests “informal gatherings” surrounding these locations is exacerbating the spread of the virus. The closures are meant to quell those, she said.

“All three licensees have been incredibly responsible about these measures,” Katherine Muxie-Hartigan, gaming enforcement counsel, said of the existing restrictions. She added guests have also been largely compliant and “issues have been few and far between.”

Muxie-Hartigan also noted that since the gaming complexes reopened in June, 20 active employees had tested positive between the three sites. The majority of the sources of exposure in those cases, she added, were off-property and there were “no patterns of multiple employees in the same division” receiving positive tests.

In response to the new regulations, gaming facilities were required to submit an updated plan that included what steps facilities were taking to adjust operations to meet the requirements, plans for communicating these changes, strategies to ensure the cessation of alcohol sales, and a plan for communicating protocols to employees and partners such as attached restaurants and retail. Stein lauded the licensees, including MGM Springfield, for quickly responding and submitting their proposals.

According to MGM Springfield’s submission to the MGC by Compliance Officer Daniel Miller, the facility opens to the public for casino access only at 10 a.m. and the South End Market opens for food service at 11 a.m. Last call for beverage service is at 8:45 p.m. At 9 p.m., all beverage service ends, as does food service at the South End Market, and table game dealers warn players of the final hand. In addition, a closure announcement is made every 10 minutes and staff reminds patrons of the closing time. At 9:15 p.m., staff conducts a physical sweep of the casino floor to remove all beverages and the facility closes at 9:30 p.m. with security conducting a final sweep to ensure all patrons have left the premises.

Miller also noted that the MGM Springfield hotel and TAP Sports Bar would remain closed until further notice. Chandler Steakhouse is continuing to operate with an adjusted schedule of Friday and Saturdays only from 4 to 9:30 p.m.

Gaming Commissioner Bruce Stebbins and Capt. Brian Connors of the Massachusetts State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit acknowledged that the closure presents the challenge of managing patrons leaving the facility all at once.

"An orderly exit is a concern,” Connors said. He indicated the state police would be active in that process, adding, “I feel very confident we’ll be in good shape.”