Massachusetts casinos report $86M in GGR for February, monthly and annual growth

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported on Tuesday financial results for the month of February 2022 at MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park Casino (PPC) which, combined, generated approximately $86 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). All three properties posted GGR above from the same period last year and from a month earlier.

Wynn Resorts' Encore Boston Harbor placed first for the month, delivering $54.7 million in GGR: $31 million corresponded to slots, and $23.7 million to table games. MGM Springfield followed with $19.9 million in GGR, $15.7 million of the total corresponding to slots and the rest -$4.2 million- to table games. PPC, a slots-only venue, posted $10.9 million in GGR.

Encore Boston’s GGR for February was not only up from February last year -$41 million- but also slightly above from January this year, when it posted $53.9 million. MGM Springfield also delivered an increase from both February last year -$16.9 million- and from the previous month -$18.6 million-.

Plainridge Park Casino was also up in both accounts, posting more GGR than the same month last year -$9.5 million- and from January 2022 -$9.8 million-. The $10.9 million delivered in February marks the venue’s return to its usual $10M+ in monthly revenue.

MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor -both category 1 resort-casinos- are taxed on 25% of GGR, with monies allocated to specific state funds as determined by the gaming statute. Meanwhile, PPC is a category 2 slots facility, which is taxed on 49% of GGR: of that total taxed amount, 82% is paid to Local Aid and 18% is allotted to the Race Horse Development Fund.

To date, the Commonwealth has collected approximately $1 billion in total taxes and assessments from the three gaming venues in the state since the respective openings of each gaming facility, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

More than $1 Billion has been collected in taxes and assessments from Massachusetts casinos since those gaming facilities began operating in the Commonwealth, according to the February 2022 Revenue Report from the MGC.

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— MA Gaming Commission (@MassGamingComm) March 15, 2022

“My colleagues at the MGC and I are pleased to highlight this milestone. When the legislature passed the expanded gaming act in 2011, they envisioned a regulated gaming industry in the Commonwealth that would serve as an economic driver while promoting responsible play,” said MGC Chair Cathy Judd-Stein.

According to Judd–Stein, the landmark achievement is “a marker of success” of the law and the commitment of licensees, fellow commissioners, MGC staff and residents of the Commonwealth “to a safe and vibrant” gaming industry in the state.

All in all, the new revenue report proves the state’s industry is coming back from Covid-19. And with measures now lifted, the casinos expect business to further recover going forward. This week, MGM Springfield will host delegates from 76 union locals around the state for the 103rd annual convention of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council: events are also returning.

“We are thrilled to see group bookings on the rise, with many organizations already scheduled to host their events here at MGM Springfield this upcoming spring, summer and into the fall,” said MGM spokeswoman Beth Ward, according to MassLive. “The Massachusetts Building Trades Council’s convention marks our largest convention on property since early 2020. It’s an exciting time as we look forward to welcoming more and more guests.” 

The casino has also added back another table in its poker room -reopened in October- for a new total of 14. Resumption of 24/7 operations at its hotel launched in December, and concerts returned to its plaza last summer.