Encore unfazed following trio of brawls
No plans to change security policies
Encore Boston Harbor and the state police aren’t planning any changes after a series of early morning brawls — though the Boston City Council public safety vice chairman says the casino has to get its act together.
“They obviously have to be careful and address this as quickly as possible,” said City Councilor Tim McCarthy.
Three brawls after 2 a.m. Monday morning at the Everett casino resulted in two people being arrested on a variety of assault charges. A third person will be summonsed, and a fourth was so intoxicated that police took him into protective custody when he kept bellowing at the brawlers as they were escorted off the grounds, state police said.
Wynn Resorts spokesman Michael Weaver said that the casino is not considering changes to its security policies.
Weaver referred back to Encore’s statement from Monday, which said the inhouse security team and cops quickly responded to and controlled the situation, with no disruption to other guests or operations.
State police spokesman David Procopio said the staties, who have law enforcement authority at the casino, also aren’t considering changes. The agency’s Gaming Enforcement Unit maintains around-theclock presence at Encore and the state’s other two casinos, including plainclothes and uniformed troopers.
Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission Director Ralph Sacramone has said the ABCC will “look into” the brawl and, if the situation merits it, file a violation with the Gaming Commission.
No total number for arrests or incidents at the casino since its opening were immediately available, Procopio said.
Gaming Commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said her organization’s enforcement arm “maintains an ongoing dialogue with Encore’s security personnel.”
The Gaming Commission eventually will present “baseline public safety data” for Everett and the surrounding communities, Driscoll said, adding that the anticipated timing of that report will be available later this week. A few months after that report, Driscoll said, the Gaming Commission will present more data at a public meeting.
Critics predicted unruliness and other problems when the Gaming Commission granted Encore a license to serve alcohol on the gaming floor until 4 a.m., past the 2 a.m. cut-off that applies to other establishments under Massachusetts law.