Massachusetts Casinos Made $95.7 Million in September, Newly Proposed Casino to Fund Rail Corridor

Commercial casinos in Massachusetts generated $95.7 million in September, a 3.9% year-on-year rise from $92.1 million in September 2024.  Table games generated $28.1 million in the state, decreasing 3.7% year over year, while slots revenue rose 7.5% year over year from $62.8 million to $67.6 million. 

In other news, Representative Natalie Higgins has introduced a new bill that would create an InterCity Regional Passenger Rail Fund for passenger rail projects and introduce a new region where a casino gaming license would be granted. 

Additionally, one of the state's Tribal Casinos recently received a liquor control ordinance. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribes’ First Light Casino can now offer alcohol to guests, marking another milestone in its growth since January. 

Positives All Around for Massachusetts Casinos

According to the recent report from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, all three commercial casinos operating in the state saw profits rise year-on-year. 

Plainridge Park saw the highest revenue increase despite being the lowest-earning casino in the state, as it does not operate table games. Its revenue increased 9% in September, rising from $13.1 million to $14.3 million from slots. 

Additionally, the Encore Boston Harbor Casino saw revenues increase year-on-year, with profits rising 2.5% from $57.7 million in 2024 to $59.1 million in 2025. Table games revenue fell 4.8% year-on-year in September, from $25.1 million to $23.9 million, while slots revenue increased 8.1% from $32.6 million to $35.2 million. 

MGM Springfield casino came in second for both revenue and year-on-year profits increase, with a 6.3% rise from $20.9 million to $22.3 million. Slots revenue increased 7.3%, from $16.8 million to $18 million. Table game revenue also rose from $4.2 million to $4.3 million, an increase of 2.5%. 

New Casino Could Mean New Rail Corridor

Bill H 3680 was recently proposed by Rep Natalie Higgins in Massachusetts, which aims to introduce a new region, Region D, including Fitchburg and Leominster, along with Ashburnham, Lunenburg, and Westminster. The region would receive a casino gaming license and use 25% of gaming revenue to expand commuter rail services across north central Massachusetts. 

At the Joint Committee on Transportation meeting, Rep. Higgins said, “At the heart of this bill is opening up an additional region for north central Massachusetts for a possible casino and channeling that money into something that we all desperately need: better operated, better funded, and more expanded commuter rail.” 

Constituent Paul Keating was said to have come to Higgins with the idea, and Keating said his experience working in transport could be “backed by a continuous flow of funds”

Consulting company HLT did a study in 2021 that found a casino could generate around $75 million in taxes, which could be closer to $90 million in 2025. Using the northern part of Massachusetts would spread out casinos across the state, as MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor are both near the Massachusetts Turnpike. 

Additionally, the casino would generate jobs, attract further investment, and further connect communities along the rail line with jobs, healthcare, and education.