Encore Closes Hotel, Reduces Casino Hours Amid New Rules

Jenna Fisher
Updated ·2 min read

EVERETT, MA — Encore Boston Harbor is closing its hotel after the governor announced new pandemic restrictions that will also limit the casino’s business hours.

"Encore Boston Harbor supports and will adhere to the additional directives put forth by the Commonwealth aimed to reduce the ongoing risk to public health," spokesperson for Encore told Patch in a statement. "As a result, we are analyzing the impacts of the directives on our resort operations and will adjust accordingly to be in compliance."

The hotel will be closed through at least December 15

Beginning Friday, Encore Boston Harbor will reduce its casino hours —which has been 24 hours a day — to weekdays from noon to 9 p.m. on weekends from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced that all restaurants in the state will have to close at 9:30 p.m. starting Friday as part of his stay-at-home advisory amid a rise in coronavirus cases.

Many in the hospitality industry worry the advisory will further hamper businesses that have been hit hard throughout the pandemic, with shifting restrictions on hours, capacity and what type of food people need to get to order alcohol.

"Restaurants are not the problem," Steve Clark, Massachusetts Restaurant Association Director of Government Affairs, told Patch Monday afternoon.

Read more: 'Restaurants Are Not The Problem': Reaction To Massachusetts Pandemic Restrictions

In August, the casino laid off nearly 400 employees who were previously furloughed.

"With continued efforts from the State to minimize the spread of COVID-19, Encore Boston Harbor continues to operate with a significantly reduced capacity in all parts of our resort," an Encore spokesperson said in a statement at the time.

The casino paid its employees from its closure March 15 through the end of May. Parent company Wynn Resorts said the closure cost the resort $220 million.

There were 2,700 people working at the resort and 915 on furlough, the Boston Globe reported in August.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how .

This article originally appeared on the Boston Patch