Massachusetts Casinos Rise 4.7% Year-on-Year in April

The three licensed commercial casinos in Massachusetts generated revenue increases of 4.7% in April, increasing from $97.4 million to $102.1 million year-on-year.

The report, published by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, revealed that each of the state's three casinos, Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino, generated year-on-year revenue increases.

Encore Boston Harbor Paves the Way in April

Encore Boston Harbor contributed the most significant sector revenue, recording 62% of the three casinos’ combined total. It generated $63.4 million in April 2025, a 4.2% rise on the $60.8 million recorded in April 2024. 

Following this, MGM Springfield recorded a year-over-year revenue jump of 3.4%, rising from $22.77 million in April 2024 to $23.54 million this year, the smallest revenue increase out of the three casinos. 

Plainridge Park ended up having the highest percentage rise, despite generating the lowest revenue of the three. The casino recorded revenue of $15.1 million in April, up 9.2% on last April’s figure of $13.8 million. 

Additionally, Plainridge Park, which is attached to a harness racing track, also differs from the other two commercial casino venues in that it only offers slot gaming. Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield offer slot gaming and table games, and are taxed at a lower rate. 

Massachusetts Lawmakers Poised to Cut Casino Mitigation Funds 

While the state’s three commercial casinos appear to be thriving, local residents could have faced some controversial news last month as lawmakers appeared set to cut the state’s Community Mitigation Fund.  

Since 2011, the Mitigation Fund, which is aimed at helping communities that could be affected negatively by the presence of gambling facilities, has previously received 6.5% of the revenue collected from the state’s casinos, but that ended last year, when Gov. Maura Healey led an effort to change the way that gambling revenue was distributed, with the aim of finding $100 million for other spending.

This year, the House Ways and Means Committee has proposed a budget that would prevent casino tax revenues from going to the Fund. While this change has once again been framed as a temporary rearrangement, the Senate, which is due to produce its budget next month, called for the changes to be permanent last year. 

In the wake of the House budget, former House representative Brad Hill, now Commissioner at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, voiced his concerns.

“This is a program that many of the cities and towns surrounding our casinos have used over the years for mitigation. And, you know, the writing on the wall — this is one person’s opinion, the writing’s on the wall that this program may be coming to an end, as two years in a row now there’s a proposal to not put money into the account,” Hill said.