Massachusetts casino revenue bounces back in Dec., still below pre-COVID levels

Business at Massachusetts three casinos rebounded in December, according to figures released Friday by the state's Gaming Commission. However, revenue still remains well below pre-COVID levels.

Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor generated about $50 million in gross gaming revenue in December 2020, as reported by Mass Live. The three casinos reported about $45 million in gross gambling revenue for the month of November. But the December figures don’t offer a full picture of the impact of the state’s tighter 25% occupancy restrictions, which took effect Dec. 26 and remain in place until at least Jan. 24.

MGM Springfield reported $11.4 million in gambling revenue in December. That’s up about 8.5% from the $10.5 million MGM reported in November. In December 2019, though, MGM reported $19 million in gross gambling revenues. In December 2018 it reported $21.6 million.

At Wynn's Encore, the Gaming Commission reported gross gambling revenue of $29.3 million, up about 7% from $27.3 million in November.

At Plainridge, gross revenue from slot machines was $9.2 million in December, up about 20% from $7.6 million in November. Plainridge does not have table games.

State regulators said Thursday that crowds at casinos aren’t big enough to cross the new, lower, thresholds. For instance, MGM Springfield’s biggest crowd in recent weeks was 22% of its capacity for its “Winning Wonderland” new car drawing Dec. 26, which was a Saturday and the day after Christmas. After the promotion, occupancy fell back to about 19%.