BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — It's a day local gambling fans have been waiting for: the state's two casinos have been given the go-ahead to return to expanded seating guidelines for several table games.
Encore Boston Harbor in Everett and MGM Springfield, which have been operating at limited capacity and offerings since last summer, can now resume offering Craps games and add a fourth seat to Blackjack tables.
Casino gambling is slowly ramping up again in the Commonwealth after being abruptly shut down when the Covid-19 pandemic hit a year ago, triggering massive layoffs and a significant drop in revenue.
Craps tables can now accommodate six players and Blackjack can host up to four, with plexi-glass partitions in place to keep players separated.
The move is expected to help hundreds of laid off workers get rehired and allow the casinos to recover from some of their financial losses in 2020.
Casino officials say despite the eased guidelines, they will continue to keep a close eye on Covid-19 safety protocols and ensure that they are strictly enforced to limit the spread of Covid-19.
WBZ NewsRadio's Mike Macklin (@mikemacklinwbz) reports.
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Written by Rachel Armany
(Photo: Getty Images)