Casino Springfield Mass Opening

• MGM Springfield is a hotel and casino complex situated in the heart of Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, United States.Opening on August 24, 2018 in a block of buildings that are historically or culturally influential to Springfield, it became the first resort casino in the Commonwealth.
• Casino & Amenities Now Open! Casino Promotions. MGM Springfield invites you to live the M life by signing up for M life Rewards! Springfield, MA 01103.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – After being closed for months, Massachusetts’ three casinos, MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, will be reopening in just. SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WHSM) - Reopening requirements for Encore Boston Harbor, Plainridge Park and MGM Springfield have been approved by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

SPRINGFIELD — When MGM Springfield officially opened its doors Friday morning, one thing was certain: As long as it is in business, it will never close.

The casino and resort, a $960 million project MGM began in 2011, will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Yet the ability to check out the resort’s wares at any time did not appear to deter opening day crowds.

According to MGM, about 10,000 people showed up for grand opening festivities outside, a mass that stretched all the way around the block from State Street to Main Street.

Inside the casino was also bustling, with swirling crowds playing slots and casino games and standing in a long line to sign up for the M life Rewards loyalty program.

Some came to game, others to enjoy the atmosphere, and many showed up simply to satisfy their curiosity. There was even a man who attended the opening to enjoy some family fun with his children.

Carla Gallo, a postal worker and real estate agent from North Branford Connecticut, said she came out, “For the experience of the opening of a casino.”

Gallo said that she normally gambles at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

“Winning money,” she said, on what she was looking forward to most about the day.

Joe Genest said that he traveled from St. George, Vermont, for the casino opening, which he said is 250 miles away.

“We had nothing else to do today,” said Genest, who is retired.

Fred Santana, a retired postal worker from New Salem, said that he loves the atmosphere of casinos.

“This is good, this is good so far,” said Santana, of MGM Springfield, who noted he’s been to casinos in Atlantic City, New Orleans and Las Vegas.

He also expressed happiness about the casino being in Springfield, because he will not have to travel as far to visit one.

“I put 40,000 miles of casino miles on my car,” he said, adding that he anticipated becoming a regular visitor.

While slots were the most popular game among those interviewed, Santana said he prefers roulette.

“That’s the best game in the house,” he said.

Marc Menard, of Agawam, said he came out for the casino’s grand opening “to check out the future of Springfield.”

Menard, a security guard, said that he doesn’t gamble often, but that he will return to the casino again.

Curiosity drew Eli Berrios and her daughter Genesis Gonzalez, of Springfield, to the casino.

“It’s beautiful,” said Berrios, on MGM Springfield. “Good job.”

Genesis also said that the resort was nice, but expressed disappointment at the lack of a buffet.

Berrios said that she would gamble at a later date, when she wasn’t with her daughter.

Although he said he doesn’t gamble a lot, Ralph Pelletier, of Chicopee, said he will be switching his business to MGM Springfield from the Connecticut casinos.

“You have two or three slot plays just for the gas money,” he said.

He also said that the casino was nicer than he thought it would be.

One man who didn’t show an interest in gambling was John Rossini, an off-duty state trooper who was enjoying a game of air hockey with his young daughter Julia at the resort’s TAP Sports Bar when the Gazette caught up with him.

Rossini’s wife is assisting with the opening of the casino’s salon and spa, and he brought three of the family’s kids down for the opening to check out what the casino has to offer families.

“I think it’s going to be great,” said Rossini, of Wilbraham, pointing to movies, bowling, dining and games. “I think it’s just going to be a great thing for the city and the surrounding towns.”

The movie theater did not open with the rest of the casino complex on Friday.

Rossini also said that he’s looking forward to the entertainment, dinners and shows MGM will offer.

One man interviewed sounded a note of caution.

Ken Lucas, of East Longmeadow, grew up in Springfield, and he said that he attended the opening because he didn’t have anything else to do. He said he wanted to see how many people came out.

“This place could turn into Back to the Future II,” said Lucas, who sells chemicals and solvents to the medical marijuana market. “If I feel that way I’ll probably move out of the area.”

In Back to the Future II, a casino forms the centerpiece of a dystopian version of Hill Valley, the hometown of the series’ protagonist, Marty McFly.

Lucas said that with one casino planned for Connecticut in the south and another in Boston, a casino alone will not be enough to draw people in and that other forms of entertainment, particularly those directed at families, would have to come to town as well.

“I think they’re really going to have to go all in,” Lucas said.

Still, Lucas said that he is rooting for the development to succeed, and that he enjoys going to casinos.

“I think it’s very nice,” said Lucas. “I hope it succeeds and does well.”

He also noted an activity that anyone can participate in at MGM.

“You can just come down here and people watch if you get bored,” he said.

Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.

Last updated Dec. 14.

The uncontrollable spread of COVID-19 has made it very difficult for the US casino industry to function in most states. Across the country, casinos are limiting the number of customers on their floors or are closing their doors to casual and experts bettors in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Casinos were particularly hard hit in the spring, when most were forced to shutter. On March 19, the American Gaming Associationissued a release on the crisis. AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said:

With a spike of coronavirus cases in the fall of 2020, casinos are once again being forced to shut down in many states. Most casinos remain open in some respect, but that will likely change.

Though many gamblers will turn to horse betting, online casinos and online poker, our staff at PlayUSA wants to keep you up to date with a list of casino properties that have suspended operations in the wake of this global pandemic.

Alabama casinos

Wind Creek casinos in the state are open with some restrictions.

Arizona casinos

Most Arizona casinos are open subject to general COVID restrictions in the state. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort is currently closed, and Casino del Sol closed for the rest of 2020 starting on Dec. 7.

Arkansas casinos

Arkansas casinos are open, with some restrictions.

Latest report on Arkansas casinos here.

California casinos

California is currently under a stay-at-home order and capacity restrictions in most regions. However, most California tribal casinos are currently open with a variety of restrictions that don’t always line up with state guidelines. More on that here.

Card rooms closed on Nov. 30 for three weeks

Colorado casinos

Casinos in Colorado mostly remain open, but some such as Ute Mountain Casino Hotel have opted to close temporarily. Table games are shut down in some other casinos. More on that at PlayColorado.

Connecticut casinos

The state’s two casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort, are both open with restrictions. As of the week of Dec. 1, Foxwoods announced even further restrictions and temporary closing of some hotel areas.

Latest report on casinos in Connecticut here.

Delaware casinos

The three Delaware casinos are currently open with some restrictions

• Delaware Park
• Dover Downs
• Harrington Casino and Raceway

Florida casinos

All of Florida’s casinos are currently open with varying restrictions.

Idaho casinos

Most Idaho casinos remain open.

Illinois casinos

All casinos in Illinois are closed as of Nov. 20 under an order from Gov. JB Pritzker. Visit PlayIllinois for more updates.

Indiana casinos

Indiana casinos mostly remain open, with some restrictions. Visit PlayIndiana for more updates.

Iowa casinos

All Iowa casinos are currently open, but with restrictions.

More on casinos in Iowa here.

Kansas casinos

Kansas casinos remain open for now.

Kentucky racing

There are no casinos in Kentucky.

Louisiana casinos

Most Louisiana casinos remain open, but at limited capacity.

More information here on casinos in Louisiana.

Maine casinos

Maine casinos are open but must close earlier than usual. More on casinos in Maine here.

Maryland casinos

Maryland casinos are open, with restrictions. However, infections in Maryland via casinos have drawn some scrutiny.

Massachusetts casinos

Massachusetts’ three casinos — Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston Harbor — are all open, with restrictions. More from PlayMA here.

Michigan casinos

Michigan’s three commercial casinos are currently closed:

• MGM Grand
• Greektown Casino
• MotorCity Casino

Some tribal casinos have also closed their doors for now.

Minnesota casinos

Native American tribes with casinos remain open for now, with restrictions. More here.

Mississippi casinos

All 26 of the state’s casinos remain open.

Missouri casinos

Missouri casinos are all open, with varying restrictions.

Montana casinos

Some of Montana’s tribal casinos are closed. There are restrictions that limit capacity in casinos in the state.

Nevada casinos

Casinos in the state and in Las Vegas remain largely open, but at reduced capacity. These include Palazzo, for example, where rooms are closed seven days a week but the casino floor remains open. More from PlayNevadahere and more on Las Vegas specifically can be found here.

New Hampshire casinos

There is no word yet on when casinos in New Hampshire will reopen.

New Jersey casinos

Atlantic City casinos continue to stay open, with restrictions. Of course, online casinos in New Jersey, are still running.

Casino Springfield Mass Opening Schedule

New Mexico casinos

Worsening conditions in New Mexico have led to almost all casinos being closed. More here.

New York casinos

All New York casinos, both commercial and tribal, remain open for now.

North Carolina casinos

The only two casinos in North Carolina, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino are currently open.

When Is Mgm Casino In Springfield Mass Opening

North Dakota casinos

Tribal casinos are generally open in North Dakota, although it is on a case by case basis.

Casino Springfield Mass Opening Events

Ohio casinos

Ohio casinos remain open, but are subject to a curfew.

Oklahoma casinos

Almost all Oklahoma casinos are currently open.

Oregon casinos

Most tribal casinos in Oregon remain open, with restrictions. Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City is one that has closed temporarily.

Pennsylvania casinos

PA casinos are temporarily closed for a three-week pause that began Dec. 12. Updates From PlayPennsylvania here.

Map Of Massachusetts

Rhode Island casinos

The two Rhode Island casinos, Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Tiverton, closed for two weeks starting Nov. 30.

South Dakota casinos

Many South Dakota casinos have closed because of worsening COVID cases in the state, but a few remain open.

Casino Springfield Mass Opening Schedule

Texas casinos

Texas casinos are currently open.

Washington casinos

Holyoke Mass

The state’s tribal casinos all remain open with restrictions.

West Virginia casinos

All five of West Virginia’s casinos remain open, with restrictions.

Wisconsin casinos

Tribal casinos are open or closed on a case by case basis. More here.

Wyoming casinos

Wyoming casinos are currently closed.