SEN. ERIC LESSER, a key player in the state’s debate over legalizing sports betting, on Monday laid out his vision for the state’s latest gambling expansion, unveiling a proposal that […]
Rolling the Dice
Coverage of casino licensing and the gambling referendum
Posted inOpinion
Gaming numbers improved in January
THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING Commission released the casino revenue figures for the month of January 2021 this week and those revenue numbers look encouraging. All three gaming venues, Encore Boston Harbor, […]
Posted inGambling
Lottery finding its footing during COVID
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE MASSACHUSETTS LOTTERY saw greater sales and profit performance during the six months from July through December 2020 than it did during the same six months […]
Posted inGambling
Judd-Stein: Casinos haven’t asked for COVID relief
THE CHAIR of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission says the state’s three casinos have not asked for any financial breaks during the pandemic despite shutdowns, capacity restrictions, and curfews that have […]
Posted inGambling
Sports betting bill refiled, seeks more revenue
SPORTS BETTING is back. State Sen. Brendan Crighton, a Lynn Democrat, reintroduced a bill this week to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts, reviving a debate that died without action at […]
Posted inOpinion
December gaming revenues show promise
LAST WEEK’S REVENUE REPORT from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission suggested the state’s casinos are doing pretty well, given the many restrictions imposed by COVID-19. Monthly slot revenues for the Commonwealth’s […]
Posted inGambling
Tribe chairman arrested for extortion related to Taunton casino
THE CHAIRMAN of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe and the owner of an architecture firm that the tribe contracted with to help build a casino in Taunton have been arrested on […]
Posted inOpinion
N.E. gaming market is not saturated yet
A YEAR AGO I would have said the gaming market in New England was saturated, with a relatively fixed number of customers bouncing between casinos based on promotions or geographical […]
Posted inOpinion
Mohegan slots tops in New England
SLOT MACHINES at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut are going gang-busters. In August, the casino’s slot revenue was nearly $45.6 million, just $2 million shy of the $47.5 million […]
Posted inOpinion
My bet is Vineyard gaming is coming
THE PURSUIT of a casino by the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe on Martha’s Vineyard may be one of the most under-covered stories in Massachusetts. The tribe is trying to open a […]
Posted inGambling
MGM Springfield lays off 1,000 employees
MGM SPRINGFIELD is laying off 1,000 already furloughed employees as part of nationwide cuts by its parent company that resulted in 18,000 total layoffs on Friday. The workers have been […]
Posted inOpinion
Casino slot revenues off to a strong start
GAMING IS BACK in Massachusetts and the casinos are open and ready for business and patrons appear to be ready, willing, and able to play. Plainridge Park reopened on July […]
Posted inGambling
Casino revenues, amid constraints, do fairly well in July
THE STATE’S THREE CASINOS performed fairly well in July, bringing in 56 percent of the revenue they did in July 2019 despite operating far fewer games and slot machines for […]
Posted inGambling
Las Vegas-style casinos face uncertain future
THE MASSACHUSETTS CASINO industry faces a long and steep climb back as it prepares to reopen over the coming week, with its opulent centerpiece, the $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor, […]
Posted inOpinion
Tribe says US took its land out of trust
Following is a statement posted on the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe website on Friday. At 4:00 pm today — on the very day that the United States has reached a record […]
Posted inGambling
Sports betting bill in play on Beacon Hill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Adults in Massachusetts would be able to bet on professional and Division I college sports in person and through web or mobile apps under legislation released […]
Posted inGambling
Wynn slammed by Macau shutdown
WYNN RESORTS CEO Matt Maddox said the coronavirus shutdown of all the casinos in Macau for at least two weeks is costing the gambling giant millions of dollars a day […]
Posted inEconomy
Casinos continue sluggish performance
NOVEMBER FIGURES SHOW continued weakness in the Massachusetts casino industry, where fears of market saturation in the Northeast appear warranted and revenue projections for the state’s dive into the casino […]
Posted inGambling
More ominous signs at Mass. gambling facilities
GAMING FACILITIESÂ in Massachusetts continued to struggle in October, as gross gaming revenue continued to slide at Encore Boston Harbor and the Plainridge Park slots parlor saw its revenue fall to […]
Posted inGambling
Wynn CEO: Encore spending levels will decline
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of Wynn Resorts signaled on Wednesday that the company needs to rein in costs at the Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, with the casino and hotel reporting […]
Posted inGambling
To entice customers, Encore discounts trips to casino
SINCE ITS JUNE OPENING, Encore Boston Harbor has slashed the cost of travel to the Everett casino, first offering free parking and now adding free bus service to some and […]
Posted inGambling
Henry showed interest in Wynn property
WYNN RESORTS has held some preliminary discussions with John Henry, the owner of the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Globe, about working jointly on the development of property the […]
Posted inGambling
Wynn brings in new managers in Everett
WYNN RESORTS shuffled its top management team at Encore Boston Harbor on Wednesday, removing president Robert DeSalvio and elevating Brian Guilbrants, the head of food and beverage, to replace him. […]
Posted inGambling
September casino revenues lackluster
ENCORE BOSTON HARBOR reported $150 million in gross gaming revenue from July through September, putting the Everett casino on pace to bring in roughly $600 million over its first full […]