Citing the shutdown of the state’s casinos due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday granted a one-year extension to MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor to launch a program that will allow gamblers to track their spending.
MGM and Encore were scheduled to launch the “Play My Way” program by a commission-set deadline of Sept. 1, 2020, but asked for an extension to Sept. 1, 2021. The casinos cited the hardships of being closed since mid-March. They are slated to remain closed until at least May 4, pending further review and approval by the commission.
The extension was granted by a 5-0 commission vote.
Mark Vander Linden, the commission’s director of research and responsible gaming, said both casinos “have worked diligently and in good faith toward the completion and launch of a play management system.”
“Given the current situation, we agreed the request is reasonable and recommend the Commission grant the request to delay implementation," he said.
Plainridge Park already had the program in place and thus is not affected.
The Play My Way program allows patrons to monitor the amount of money they spend and “inform their decision to continue to stop their play,” Vander Linden said.
“They make decisions about gambling and monitor it in real time,” he said.
Commission member Enrique Zuniga and Gayle Cameron both referred to the delay as a “reasonable” request.
“It only makes sense to grant this,” Zuniga said during the meeting, which was held via an online video conference.