Massachusetts Casino Revenue Climbs 2.8% as Lawmakers Advocate for Online Gambling Bills

Massachusetts' three retail casinos — Encore Boston Harbor, the MGM Springfield Casino, and the Plainridge Park Casino — reported a 2.8% year-over-year revenue increase in October, rising from $94.2 million in 2024 to $96.9 million this year.

This Week in Worcester reported that Encore Boston Harbor led the trio in revenue, with $57.6 million. However, that figure was essentially flat year over year, down a modest 0.04% from last year. The MGM Springfield Casino saw the most significant increase, rising 9% to $24.1 million, while the Plainridge Park Casino's revenue figure of $15.2 million resulted in a 6.4% increase.

With online casinos still prohibited, consumers are turning to offshore sites, a move that has missed out the state on tax revenue.

According to This Week in Worcester, legislation is being proposed to legalize online casinos in Massachusetts. Senate Bill 235 and House Bill 332 would grant two licenses per retail casino to partner with online operators and two additional licenses for non-retail operators, plus a $5 million license fee every five years and a 20% tax on earnings.

Tax revenue from current gaming operations in Massachusetts is allocated to local aid (about 30%), education (nearly 20%), transportation (around 20%), and other funds, including capital improvements, health, tourism, and culture.

Proponents of online casino expansion argue that the move would improve consumer protections and boost tax revenue, strengthening the case for regulatory change even if retail results are solid.

This Week in Worcester further noted that Massachusetts taxes gaming revenue at roughly 25%, with slot gaming revenue taxes at 49% (40% to the state, 9% to the Massachusetts Race Horse Development Fund). The per-machine annual license tax stands at $600.