Lack Of Poker Tables At Massachusetts Casinos Frustrates Players

The entire casino gaming industry in Massachusetts was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with poker players being particularly affected. While most casino games have managed to recover after the pandemic, the poker scene continues to struggle. The limited availability of poker tables is causing frustration among players in Massachusetts.

Online poker is not currently legal in Massachusetts, which means it cannot be considered as a solution. However, it is likely that it will only be allowed once online casinos and sports betting are legalized. The latter may be on the horizon, whereas the former is expected to take several years.

One year after the COVID-19 pandemic, the poker tables in Massachusetts are still struggling. Poker players in the state are growing weary of the slow recovery process in the local casinos.

Fewer poker tables, shorter hours at Massachusetts casinos

For some time now, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has been well-informed about this matter. During its meetings in April and July, the commission dedicated time to discuss the quantity of poker tables in casinos across MA. In the current month, Commission Chair Cathy Judy-Stein expressed that numerous complaints from poker players continue to pour in.

According to the MGC, before the pandemic hit, the state’s two resort casinos collectively offered 95 poker tables that operated around the clock. Encore Boston Harbor hosted 74 of these tables, while MGM Springfield had 21.

In February 2021, Encore and MGM reopened, followed by October 2021 for Encore and MGM, respectively. By April, the number of open tables at both establishments stood at 26, with Encore having 12 tables and MGM having 14. However, as of mid-July, there has been minimal change in this count, with a total of 29 poker tables available—15 at Encore and 14 at MGM.

Both casinos have reduced their poker hours. MGM’s poker tables are open every day from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Meanwhile, Encore’s poker hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Monday through Thursday. Additionally, Encore has implemented a wait list that begins filling up an hour after the games commence.

According to Burke Caine, the Field Manager of Casino Gaming Operations at the MGC Investigation and Enforcement Bureau, Encore intends to increase its operating hours on weekends and weekdays. However, no specific information was provided regarding the extent of the extension.

Why poker hasn’t bounced back

The concerns expressed by MGC commissioners align closely with those raised by poker players.

In April, Commissioner Brad Hall expressed his disappointment by stating, “I can only say that I am thoroughly disappointed with the mere presence of twenty-seven tables across the commonwealth.”

Hall expressed his ongoing concern about the limited number of poker tables statewide, stating, “I find it worrisome that the overall count of poker tables across the entire state appears to be exceptionally low.”

Bethany Gibbons, the Assistant Director of Public and Community Relations at Encore, attributed the absence of poker tables to limited space.

Gibbons informed Play MA that due to our existing operational conditions, we are unable to reintroduce poker to its pre-Covid capacity on our gaming floor. We will closely observe our business levels and demand, ensuring that our operations are efficiently managed to optimize our tax contribution to the Commonwealth.

MGM Springfield has no plans to revert to pre-pandemic levels, according to Dara Cohen, the Director of Regional Communications at MGM Resorts.

Cohen stated to Play MA that the demand for poker is currently not as high. Guests at our establishment engage in poker for a while and then proceed to explore other games and forms of entertainment. While we do have a loyal group of regular players who spend their entire day playing poker across different tables, we do not currently see the necessity to introduce additional tables.

Casinos also struggle with staffing

In the absence of poker, numerous dealers chose to leave and settle in Texas or New Hampshire, where games resumed at an earlier time.

Struggling to find staff is a challenge not limited to Massachusetts alone. Casinos and poker rooms across the nation, including the World Series of Poker, have faced difficulties in recruiting dealers.

After the pandemic, casinos faced with reduced staffs sought ways to recover, focusing on their most lucrative options: slot machines and high-profit table games like blackjack. Games that heavily rely on skill, such as poker, which involve sharing the pot among multiple players, provide lesser returns for the casino.

MA casinos obligated to increase poker offerings

Casino companies in Massachusetts are required to submit a prospectus outlining the games they intend to offer when applying to open a casino. In the case of Encore, their application specified the inclusion of a dedicated poker area with 25 tables, offering various popular poker game variations. On the other hand, MGM’s application outlined a 25-table poker room.

The MGC’s chief legal representative emphasized that when it comes to licensee applications, the licensees are obligated to comply with every statement mentioned in their application to the commission. Additionally, the MGC has the power to ensure that all licensees uphold the specified quantity of casino games as stated in their application.

It is uncertain how the commission will utilize its authority to put an end to the current “poker drought”. However, it is evident that poker players from Massachusetts have sought alternatives elsewhere. As a result, neighboring states are benefiting from this situation, while Massachusetts’s two casinos are operating at only 30% of their capacity before the pandemic.