Gamblers at Massachusetts casinos helped generate more than $28.6 million in taxes during the month of March, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
The Bay State’s three brick-and-mortar casinos reported $102 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in March. Online casinos are not legal in Massachusetts.
March’s GGR was 18.6% higher than February ($86 million) and tax revenue was up 19.2% from February to March.
Encore Boston Harbor
Encore Boston Harbor, one of two class 1 resort casinos in Massachusetts, reported $64.9 million in GGR in March. The casino’s slots generated $35.2 million in gross revenue, and table games were responsible for $29.7 million in revenue.
Taxed at 25%, Encore Boston Harbor paid $16.2 million in taxes in March after paying $13.7 million in February.
The casino’s revenue increased 18.6% from February ($54.7 million) to March. Encore Boston Harbor’s March GGR was $15.2 million higher than March 2021.
Encore Boston Harbor’s GGR over the past six months:
- March: $64.9 million
- February: $54.7 million
- January: $54 million
- December: $62.4 million
- November: $55.2 million
- October: $62.8 million
MGM Springfield
Massachusetts’ other class 1 resort casino, MGM Springfield, produced $24.3 million GGR in March; slots checked in at $18.9 million in revenue and table games were at $5.4 million.
MGM Springfield paid $6.1 million in state taxes; the casino’s tax bill was $5 million in February.
Revenue at the casino jumped 22.1% from February ($19.9 million) to March. MGM Springfield’s March GGR was $2.2 million higher than March 2021.
MGM Springfield’s GGR over the past six months:
- March: $24.3 million
- February: $19.9 million
- January: $18.6 million
- December: $22.2 million
- November: $21.7 million
- October: $21.4 million
Plainridge Park Casino
Plainridge Park, the state’s only category 2 slots-only facility, reported $12.9 million in GGR in March, up 17.3% from February ($11 million). The casino paid $6.3 million in state taxes and to the Race Horse Development Fund (RHDF) in March after paying $5.4 million in February.
As a category 2 facility, Plainridge Park is taxed at a rate of 49%, and 18% of that tax money goes to the RHDF. Plainridge Park also hosts harness races.
Plainridge Park’s GGR over the past six month:
- March: $12.9 million
- February: $11 million
- January: $9.8 million
- December: $11 million
- November: $11 million
- October: $11.7 million
How is casino tax money used?
Massachusetts has collected $1.047 billion to date in taxes and assessments from the three casinos. The revenue funds:
- Local aid
- The Transportation Infrastructure Fund
- Community mitigation initiatives
- Debt
- The Education Fund
- The Public Health Trust Fund
- The Local Capital Improvements Fund
- The Race Horse Development Fund
- The Massachusetts Cultural Council
- The Massachusetts Tourism Fund
