Slots Only Bright Spot in January Revenue Report for Massachusetts

^{Encore Boston Harbor reported the most revenue in January at nearly $60 million. (Photo: Michael Dwyer / Alamy)}

Massachusetts' three commercial casinos reported $96.7 million in revenue for January, down from the previous year’s figure of $97.9 million and representing a slight year-on-year decrease of 1.3%.  

The figures, published by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, show that of the combined total, slots generated $69.8 million, up 5.4% year-on-year from $66.2 million. In contrast, table games declined 15.4% year-on-year, dropping from $31.7 million to $26.8 million.  

As Massachusetts land-based’ casinos have a not-so-good January in terms of revenue, elsewhere, a state judge has ruled that prediction markets operator Kalshi cannot operate its sports-event contracts in The Bay State, which is somewhat good news for the state’s sports betting market.  

Encore Boston Harbor Leads in January 

Of the state’s three casinos, Encore Boston Harbor generated the biggest share of revenue, reporting $59.7 million, down 2.9% year-on-year. The casino was also the only establishment to report a decline for the month.  

Slots at the casino were actually up 9.7% year-on-year, rising from $34.3 million to $37.6 million. Despite this rise, table games revenue declined 118.8% year-on-year, decreasing from $27.1 million to $22 million.  

Plainridge Park had the highest year-on-year revenue increase of the three casinos, recording a 3.2% rise to $14.2 million. This figure is comprised of slot revenue, as the casino does not offer table games. 

MGM Springfield was the second-highest revenue generator for the month, with revenue remaining relatively stable. The casino reported a minor 0.2% increase, with revenue rising to $22.8 million. Slots at the casino declined 1% to $18 million, while table games rose 5% to $4.8 million.  

Kalshi to Halt Sports Event Contracts in Massachusetts, Judge Rules 

Slightly better news for The Bay State’s gambling market, as a Massachusetts judge ruled last month that prediction markets operator Kalshi cannot continue offering its sports event contracts to state residents. The decision comes as more state regulators continue to fight prediction market operators for what they argue constitutes illegal gambling.  

The decision was made after the state’s Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell filed a lawsuit against Kalshi in September, arguing that the operator was allowing residents to wager on sports events without having a license.  

The judge from the Suffolk County Superior Court, Christopher Barry-Smith, agreed with the assertion that Kalshi was facilitating illegal wagering and said that he would issue a preliminary injunction that would stop users in the state from placing financial bets on the outcomes of sports events on Kalshi’s platform.  

“There is no real question that licensure, and the consequent oversight, of sports wagering operations in the state serves both public health and safety, and the Commonwealth’s financial interest,” Judge Barry-Smith wrote in his decision.  

Massachusetts is just one of many states currently fighting back against the rise of prediction markets. These platforms argue that they can subsequently offer their contracts nationwide as they are federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), therefore circumventing state gambling laws.  

A recent op-ed in the Washington Post by CFTC Chairman Michael Selig opposes state oversight and argues that prediction markets should be regulated solely by federal bodies. Only time will tell how far states can push back until the Supreme Court gets involved.