Find Your Favorite Massachusetts Casinos and Resorts 2026

*Plainridge Park Casino combines slots and electronic table games with live harness racing, qualifying it as a racino. It does not offer traditional live dealer table games.

Massachusetts was a late arrival to commercial casino gaming. The 2011 Expanded Gaming Act authorized up to three resort casino licences across three geographic regions, plus a single slots parlor licence awarded statewide. The legislation required each resort casino to represent a minimum capital investment of $500 million and pay 25% of gross gaming revenue to the state. The slots parlor, Plainridge Park, is taxed at the considerably higher rate of 40%.

The Gaming Commission awarded the eastern licence to Wynn Resorts for Encore Boston Harbor and the western licence to MGM Springfield. The third licence, covering southeastern Massachusetts, has never been awarded. The Commission held it in reserve to avoid market conflict with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, one of two federally recognized tribes in the state, which has long pursued a full casino resort in Taunton. As of early 2026, the tribe operates a small temporary facility called First Light Welcome Center in Taunton, offering electronic bingo machines while plans for a permanent Class III casino continue to develop.

All three operating casinos are regulated by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which also oversees sports betting. The minimum gambling age across all three properties is 21.

• Encore Boston Harbor, Everett, Wynn Resorts: The state's flagship property and New England's only true luxury resort casino, opened June 2019 at a cost of $2.6 billion. The 210,000 square foot casino floor offers more than 2,700 slots, nearly 200 table games, and a poker room, alongside 671 hotel rooms that are the largest standard hotel rooms in New England at 650 square feet, 15 dining and lounge venues, a destination spa, and the six-acre public Harborwalk on the Mystic River. A free ferry service connects the property to Long Wharf in downtown Boston on weekends.
• MGM Springfield, Springfield, MGM Resorts International: The first full resort casino to open in Massachusetts, launched August 2018 across three city blocks in downtown Springfield at a cost of $960 million. The 500,000 square foot complex includes a hotel, spa, Regal Cinemas, Roar! Comedy Club, and multiple dining outlets. The development was built on land that had sustained significant damage in a 2011 tornado, making it a centerpiece of the city's urban regeneration.
• Plainridge Park Casino, Plainville, Penn Entertainment: Massachusetts's only slots parlor, offering more than 1,200 slot machines and electronic table games but no live dealers or traditional table games. The property operates alongside a harness racing track with live events running from April through November and year-round simulcast wagering. There is no hotel on site.

Comparison

Massachusetts was one of the more anticipated sports betting launches in the country, not least because DraftKings, one of the dominant forces in the US market, is headquartered in Boston. Governor Charlie Baker signed the enabling legislation in August 2022, retail betting launched at all three casinos on January 31, 2023, and online betting followed on March 10, bringing six operators live simultaneously.

The market has grown strongly since. As of early 2026 there are seven licensed online operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, Bally Bet, and theScore Bet. Retail operators pay 15% of gross sports wagering revenue in tax, while online operators pay 20%. Revenue is distributed across several state funds including the General Fund, a Gaming Local Aid Fund, and programmes supporting public health and youth development.

One notable restriction: bettors cannot wager on Massachusetts-based college teams except when those teams are participating in a tournament involving four or more teams, such as March Madness. All other college and professional sports are available. The minimum age for sports betting is 21.

Massachusetts offers three distinct casino experiences that have little in common beyond the slot machines. Encore Boston Harbor is a five-star luxury resort that competes with the best properties on the Las Vegas Strip. MGM Springfield is a downtown urban casino complex with a strong entertainment and dining programme. Plainridge Park is a straightforward slots and racing venue for those who want a no-frills day out. Knowing which one suits you before you travel will save a lot of disappointment.

Getting There

Encore Boston Harbor sits in Everett, five miles north of downtown Boston. It is accessible by road via Route 99 and offers free self-parking in an on-site garage. On Fridays and weekends a complimentary ferry runs between the property and Long Wharf in downtown Boston, making it one of the more enjoyable casino arrivals in the country. MGM Springfield is in the heart of downtown Springfield, directly off Interstate 91, with parking available in an adjoining garage. Plainridge Park is in Plainville on Route 1, roughly 35 miles southwest of Boston and accessible from Interstate 495.

Arrival and Entry

All three properties require guests to be 21 or older to access the gaming floor and photo identification is required. All three operate around the clock. Parking is free at Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park. MGM Springfield charges for parking in its garage, though rates are modest and validated parking arrangements are available for casino guests.

Slot Machines

Encore Boston Harbor leads the state with more than 2,700 machines across a wide range of denominations and a high-limit room for players looking to step up. MGM Springfield runs over 1,000 machines. Plainridge Park carries more than 1,200 slots alongside electronic table games, making it the state's most slots-focused venue relative to its overall size. All three properties use ticket-in, ticket-out systems.

Table Games

Full live table game offerings are available at Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield only. Encore carries nearly 200 tables including blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and craps. MGM Springfield offers a comparable range including pai gow, Spanish 21, and Ultimate Texas Hold'em alongside the standard roster. Plainridge Park does not offer live dealer table games as a condition of its slots parlour licence.

Poker Rooms

Both Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield operate dedicated poker rooms. If poker is the primary reason for your visit, Encore is the stronger destination, with a busy room running cash games and regular tournaments. Plainridge Park has no poker offering.

Taking a Break

Encore Boston Harbor's dining programme is the strongest in New England. Sinatra, one of only two restaurants in the world authorised by the Sinatra family, serves modern Italian cuisine in a setting that leans hard into the Rat Pack era. Rare Steakhouse is one of a small number of US restaurants to offer certified Kobe beef. MGM Springfield's Chandler Steakhouse is well regarded in western Massachusetts, and the property's outdoor plaza hosts food trucks every Friday alongside a regular entertainment calendar. Plainridge Park's Slack's Oyster House and Grill and Fluties Sports Pub, named after Massachusetts native and NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, cover the casual end of the spectrum.

Staying Over

Encore Boston Harbor's 671-room hotel is the only five-star casino hotel in New England. Standard rooms start at 650 square feet, the largest in the region, with floor-to-ceiling windows, Wynn Dream beds, and iPad-controlled room settings. MGM Springfield's hotel is a more conventional business-friendly property but well located for exploring the Pioneer Valley. Plainridge Park has no hotel on site, though several options are available in the surrounding Plainville and Wrentham area.

Massachusetts operates one of the more comprehensive responsible gaming frameworks in the country. The state's official helpline, 1-800-327-5050, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, free, confidential, and accessible in multiple languages. Callers are connected with trained specialists who can provide referrals to licensed treatment providers across the state.

All three casinos operate a GameSense Info Center on the gaming floor, staffed by advisers 16 hours a day. GameSense is a Massachusetts Gaming Commission initiative designed to help players understand the odds, recognize problem gambling behavior, and access support without having to leave the building. It is one of the few programmes of its kind embedded directly into casino operations in the United States.

Self-exclusion in Massachusetts covers casino gaming, sports wagering, or both, and is managed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Terms range from one year to lifetime and can be initiated in person at any of the three casinos or remotely. Once enrolled, individuals are removed from all marketing lists and forfeit any rewards points accumulated through their player account.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Gambling laws and casino operations are subject to change, and some details on this page could not be independently verified. We recommend checking directly with individual casinos and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission before making any decisions based on the information provided. You must be 21 or older to gamble at any Massachusetts casino or sportsbook. Please gamble responsibly.