Less than a year after the debut of the Commonwealth’s first full-scale casino,?Wynn Resorts has been given the green light by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to open its much-anticipated Encore Boston Harbor.
After inspecting the $2.6 billion casino’s 143 table games, 3,158 slot machines, and 88 poker tables, state gambling regulators on Wednesday authorized the Nevada-based casino operator to conduct three days of trial gambling next week in order to address any issues prior to the planned June 23 grand opening, according to an Associated Press report published by Boston.com.
It was also determined by the commission that the majority of its license requirements have been met or exceeded by Wynn.
Nearing staffing gender goal:
Meanwhile, it was reportedly acknowledged by the company that the goal to have 50 percent of Encore Boston Harbor‘s staffing to be filled by women is still something that it’s working to meet. So far, 44 percent of the casino staff is represented by women.
Wednesday’s meeting in Boston also saw approval given for final construction and transportation plans for what Wynn Resorts? has described as “the largest private single-phase construction project in the history of the?Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
Commission Chairwoman, Cathy Judd-Stein, said in a statement…
“As Encore Boston Harbor gets ready to open to the public, the MGC is focused on ensuring that our policies and procedures protect the integrity of the gaming industry and safeguards fair play for patrons,” according to The Day.
Reports showing that, during construction, the massive project provided jobs for some 7,354 workers were reportedly filed with the commission by Wynn Resorts.
Property amenities:
Upon opening, the resort located on 33 acres of land previously used for industrial purposes (Monsanto Chemical Co.)?along the Mystic River will employ approximately 5,800 people, exceeding the original projection by around 1,400. Encore’s l671 luxury rooms and suites range in floor space from 600 square feet to its two-Bedroom Residence, which measures 3,350 square feet and offers views of Boston Harbor and the city skyline.
Other amenities at the Massachusetts resort casino include 15 restaurants and lounges, including three fine dining options and vegan and vegetarian options, 19,000 square feet spa, full-menu high-end salon, state-of-the-art fitness center, luxury shopping at The Shops at Encore Boston Harbor, 50,000 square feet of? meeting and event space, including a 37,000 square-foot divisible grand ballroom, 10 customizable meeting spaces, a 21,000 square-foot waterfront event lawn, and surrounding the venue, the six-acre Harborwalk and more.
The 210,000 square foot casino also includes private and high-limit gaming areas.
Substantial fine paid:
Beating a May 31 deadline, Wynn recently paid the New England state a record $35.5 million in fines assessed by the gaming commission to conclude a year-long investigation into a $7.5 million payment its former Chief Executive Officer, Steve Wynn, is alleged to have made in order to settle an accusation of sexual assault.
Region’s sports betting landscape:
In other news close to home, on Monday, June 10, 2019, the New York Gaming Commission approved regulations that will see wagering on all major professional sports in the Empire State as early as this summer at four commercial upstate casinos, including Resorts World Catskills in Sullivan County; del Lago Resort & Casino near Waterloo in the Finger Lakes; Tioga Downs west of Binghamton in the Southern Tier, and Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady.
Early in May, Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady announced that it has started construction on its sports betting lounge, just hours after del Lago Resort & Casino made a similar announcement.
After announcing its partnership with Caesars Entertainment Corp. early this year,?the Oneida Nation, has started construction on its “The Lounge with Caesars Sports” lounges, to be located in its Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona and the Point Place Casino in Bridgeport, and at a later date, the Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango.