He took over amid the shutdown, after his predecessor abruptly departed, and has presided over a painful period for the casino’s workforce. At one point, he walked over to a slots player who had lowered her mask and politely reminded her to cover her mouth and nose. Guyot, wearing a trim gray suit that nearly matched his mask, bumped elbows with employees ― no handshakes for now - as he strolled through the casino, inspecting temperature monitors and greeting patrons.

Only a few offerings were off-limits, including the poker room, bingo, and simulcast racing (mostly because there aren’t many races to bet on right now). Table games were open, if sparsely populated by the daytime crowd. Slot machines blipped and chattered, their displays lighting up the floor - even though some were shut off to maintain adequate distance between players.

Hand sanitizer dispensers were everywhere.īut in other ways, the scene was strangely normal. Hotel receptionists and dealers stood behind plexiglass shields. Gamblers wore an assortment of face coverings, and employees sported sleek gray cloth masks emblazoned with the Foxwoods logo. Security officers limited the number of entrances and used thermal scanners to detect anyone with an elevated temperature. Inside, there are many reminders of the coronavirus permeating a luxe atmosphere designed to lull gamblers into putting aside any concerns about the outside world. There are no live events or conferences scheduled. The casino, which as a tribal property is not subject to the same state regulations as its competitors in Massachusetts, is reopening gradually, starting with portions of the hotel and casino space in its Grand Pequot Tower. “It’s definitely going to change the experience, but hopefully it doesn’t change the main reason why people come, which is to win money,” he said. He was skeptical of playing blackjack at tables encased in plexiglass, but he was willing to put up with the inconvenience in the name of safety. Johnson said he used to visit Encore Boston Harbor in Everett or one of Rhode Island’s casinos.

“I’ve been stuck in the house for so long, I just had to get out and see what it’s like in there,” said Sam Johnson of Yarmouth, who was on his way into Foxwoods Tuesday morning. Foxwoods says it has not been marketing to Massachusetts, but the word is out.

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