Massachusetts gaming revenues down 40% in December due to operating restrictions

January 17, 2021 10:57 AM
  • Howard Stutz, CDC Gaming Reports
January 17, 2021 10:57 AM
  • Howard Stutz, CDC Gaming Reports

Massachusetts three casinos, operating under reduced hours and capacity limitations, reported diminished gaming revenue results for December.

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The properties – Wynn Resorts’ Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Resorts’ MGM Springfield, and Penn National’s Plainridge Park – combined for $49.8 million in gaming revenues during December, a decline of 40.1% from a year ago, according to a report from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Due to statewide increases in COVID-19 cases, Massachusetts casinos have to close at 9:30 p.m. every evening under state-mandated operating conditions that have been in place since Nov. 6. Since Dec. 26, capacity at the casinos have been limited to 25%, which is expected to remain in place until Jan. 24.

During December, gaming revenue at Encore Boston Harbor was $29.3 million, a decline of 46% from a year ago; MGM Springfield had gaming revenue of $11.4 million, down 40%; while Plainridge Park’s gaming revenue of $9.2 million was a 10% decline.

J.P. Morgan gaming analyst Joe Greff told investors that Encore, from a market share standpoint, maintained the state-leading position of 59%. Greff said Massachusetts had the same number of weekend days in December 2020 as the prior year, making for a neutral comparison.

State gaming regulators told the MassLive newspaper in Springfield that casino crowds haven’t been large to cross the lower thresholds.

Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.