Thinking about it, I wonder if this helps the Encore shuttle services.

I don't think those bus-only lanes would allow the encore shuttle. I haven't been over that exact area in a minute. I've lived the area for years now (Medford/Somerville and now Everett) so those bus lanes will have a huge impact on traffic. but I believe bus-only means the city buses running.

they put these up in winter hill and its been whatever. also some bikers were kill on 28 near here so I'm sure that played a role. traffic was out of control over there for sure so i can't argue. this doesn't solve the bigger problems at play here and with less people feeling safe to use public transit this is kind of lolololol. pretty standard for boston. fix a problem, create a few more. rinse repeat.

also the reason they've been putting in the bus only lanes i believe is because city buses were so delayed that its the city obligation to provide on time transportation. i know some traffic advocacy groups and some actually legal precedent (i think?) opens the door to legal action as often those areas with the most delays are for the bulk of the lower income perhaps we'd call them a good portion of the essential workforce now.

I am fine playing shorthanded 4-6 handed but not with stupid plexiglass dividers and masks etc. I will just wait it out. It sucks but no thanks. Poker with plexyglass, potentially no drink service, and all this nonsense? Nah.

I'll stick to pokerstars homegame freezeouts until everyone gives all these interim solutions up

The bus lanes are temporary because Lechmere Station is being torn down and relocated and shuttle busses will be employed along this stretch instead. There is an article on boston.com today that specifically says private shuttles are also allowed to use these lanes. The Lechmere project is expected to take a year.

Who knows if these poker rooms will remain open once the spread begins and the contact tracing points back to a room but you can probably be assured that plexiglass and masks will be a requirement until there is a vaccine readily available IF these rooms survive the virus. It’s already beginning.

https://kfor.com/news/lucky-star-cas...-for-covid-19/

This makes sense. Thanks.

Definitely agree with this. How about card rooms though? Like those in NH and neighbouring states. Afaik those run more poker games than table games/slots so poker will for sure be a bigger priority for them.

Corporations are mostly concerned about appearance here. Until some type of liability law is passed (which I believe is in the talks for the new bill) they are going to tread very carefully and take all and perhaps beyond common sense measures. They have to follow stritict guidelines and while I personally am done with the virus many are now so protecting people or given the illusion of protection will remain key.

as far as poker its just not making them enough money to justify any type of risk. I'm sure with a liability shield of sorts they'd be more than happy to start letting people decide what the scene will look like. we are all in Massachusetts so there is some political stuff at play.

I think 2021 at the earliest for any form of poker although I think the ENcore could just limit or get rid of it. They were already looking for ways to cut down on poker traffic pretty much since the beginning and throughout.

With the exception of tournaments at Manchester and Boston Billiards, this has not been true since Encore opened. Chasers used to have 16 poker tables with a long list and only 7 table games. Now they're averaging 6 poker tables and 10 table games.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/422670817

Pretty decent effort.

The employees in Vegas just got word that they are returning for a June 4th opening

All poker tables removed

will poker resurrect?

is that a prediction or a fact?

I'm sure someday it will. But while they need to implement social distancing with the gaming (3 players per table game, every other machine disabled, etc), space is too valuable. The space will likely be filled with more slots/table games to help minimize the lesser revenue they make downstairs.

It’s a fact. I know some management in the property, and they cleared out all poker tables for the time being to add more blackjack to help with the 3 person max per gaming table.
My guess is that it’s just a temporary move for the time being, till things return to “normal”.

Encore will take a heavy hit in the region for this. Sun and Woods are likely gonna have poker next month at the current pace. MA won't have poker again til pigs fly.

At my local casino, the poker room is a distinct area and it has it's own fire marshal room capacity. One person in the poker room does not take away from one person in the slot area. Given that Encore poker space is also separate, it is probably similar.

You know what this means? The naysayers were right! Poker didn't even last a year at Encore. #freerock

Eh? Wasn't discussing capacity. If they're taking a 50% revenue hit downstairs due to social distancing guidelines, they'll try to make some of that up by putting more of those games in the poker room. And Fish confirmed that's exactly what they're doing.

Correct. Probably only a temporary move until the 3 max per table goes away

Yeah it'll be temporary. The poker room was kicking ass, they'll put it back. But they need to prioritize space while the mandates are active.

Curious if they will have some lower stake blackjack for a change.

Probably not.
Every casino I’ve heard of reopening has been higher limits. Even down in Louisiana $25 Roulette and Craps games which is nuts