The new setting is designed so that it would include a 1,800-seat entertainment venue, around 20,000 square feet of restaurant space and 2,200 parking spots for visitors. 

The Gaming Commission’s Chief of Community Affairs, Joe Delaney, said he was prepared to brief the Commission about the plans earlier this week; but commented that casino officials have recently “decided to pause the permitting process for this development so that they can do some reevaluation on whether the development as proposed is the best use for the site.”

The main question for the Gaming Commission was going to be whether the development across the road from the casino would be considered as part of Encore’s technical “gaming establishment,” and therefore subject to regulatory oversight as well as provisions relating to the state’s expanding gaming laws. 

“Some issues came up with respect to whether it’s part of the gaming establishment or not — that has certain impacts on their development — as well as Covid and other things that they’re considering at this point in time,” Delaney said.

“So Encore has indicated to us that they will come back to us once this evaluation is complete and they have essentially a final proposal to move ahead with, whether it’s this one or with some minor or some major changes.” 

It was reported in the Boston Globe last month that the development would be the first phase in Wynn Resorts' effort to transform the area outside its $2.6bn resort casino. Plans were to begin construction this year and finish in 2024.