Monthly disappointment for Massachusetts casinos

The trio of large gambling-friendly facilities in the eastern American state of Massachusetts reportedly had a disheartening January as their aggregated gross gaming revenues fell by about 28.2% year-on-year to stand at slightly over $57.6 million.

According to a Tuesday report from The Herald News newspaper citing official figures from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, business at the MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and slots-only Plainridge Park Casino was hurt by a coronavirus-related social distancing requirement that continues to prohibit them from operating at more than 40% of their maximum capacity.

Public purse:

Nevertheless, the newspaper reported that the three properties still managed to generate approximately $16.7 million in taxes last month, which was lower than the around $21.7 million chalked up for the same 31-day period in 2020 but 15.6% higher than the roughly $14.6 million recorded for December.

Decided domination:

The Herald News reported that the 671-room Encore Boston Harbor property from Wynn Resorts Limited brought in nearly two-thirds of the state’s aggregated gross gaming revenues for January at about $33.3 million although this represented a year-on-year decline of some 31%. The newspaper detailed that the situation was not much better at MGM Resorts International’s four-star MGM Springfield as monthly takings plummeted by 29.6% to approximately $14.4 million and led to a tax bill in the region of $3.6 million.

Slot slump:

The oldest of the three Massachusetts venues, the 1,200-slot Plainridge Park Casino reportedly saw its gross gaming revenues for January fall by just over 11.6% year-on-year to around $9.7 million to leave the Penn National Gaming Incorporated-run enterprise with a tax commitment of almost $4.8 million.

Persistent precautions:

The newspaper reported that the two Massachusetts casinos and their slot parlor counterpart were temporarily closed on March 17 just days before ‘The Bay State’ recorded its first official death linked to coronavirus. Although the facilities were permitted to re-open some four months later, they nonetheless purportedly continue to labor under a strict set of social distancing and public health protocols that furthermore oblige all staff members and guests to wear face masks.