Marc Crisafulli, executive vice president of strategy & operation for Bally’s Corp., says the two Rhode Island casinos are operating at a competitive disadvantage compared to other regional casinos because of the state’s Covid-19 restrictions, especially the 10 p.m. curfew on weekdays.
Bally’s operates the Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Tiverton Casino Hotel for the Rhode Island Lottery. Crisafulli told NBC, “We have capacity limitations, obviously all sorts of health and sanitary protocols, which will continue. But the curfew is a limiting factor for us.” He added, “From a competitive standpoint, we’re at a real disadvantage right now.”
Competitors in the region, including the Encore Boston Harbor and Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, already are or soon will be operating 24/7 he said.
Crisafulli said the casinos would continue to obey state regulations but added, “It’s just the fact that it’s a challenging environment right now with our competitors to the north and the southwest open more than we are.”
