Partnership Between Foxboro, Wrentham, And Plainville Aims To Attract Travelers

MA Gaming Commission Massachusetts sports betting News Sports Betting
Written By Connor Grootenhuis on November 8, 2022
Revenue reports for April 2019 showed a downturn for Massachusetts casino revenue. May 2019's reports showed improvement. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission requires MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park casinos to file monthly revenue reports. The latest numbers are good news for the casino industry in the state. Massachusetts casino revenue details for May Gross gaming receipts for MGM in May 2019 totaled over $22 million. About 73%, over $16 million, of that revenue came from slot gaming. The other $6 million came from table games. Plainridge's slots pulled in nearly $15 million in May. Though both facilities have to file monthly reports with the commission, they pay different tax rates. The state-licensed MGM as a resort casino. Plainridge's license is for operation as a slot parlor. Plainridge pays a much higher tax rate because of that designation. May tax revenue from MGM and Plainridge Plainridge pays a 40% rate on its slot take to the state and another 9% to the state's Horse Racing Development Fund. Eighty-two percent of those tax funds are distributed to local aid. MGM pays a 25% rate on its gross receipts. That revenue divides up a dozen different ways, including education and local aid. The total tax revenue from MGM and Plainridge for May was $12.7 million. That number is an improvement from the previous month. April's diminished returns for Massachusetts The revenue and tax numbers for both facilities in April left a little to be desired. MGM reported gross receipts of $21.8 million. May's numbers improved by 2.2%. MGM's table games actually took in more in April ($6.3 million) than in May ($6.1 million), but its slots were down $700,000. Plainridge's slots were down $800,000 (4.8%) in May as compared to April. Those decreased revenues led to a difference of $400,000 (5.5%) in taxes paid. Looking at all the numbers for 2019 gives a better context for how both facilities have performed. Cumulative revenue for 2019 through May Through the first five months of 2019, MGM reports gross gaming receipts of over $111 million. The average monthly revenue is just over $22 million. Plainridge has pulled in $70 million in gross receipts in 2019. That averages $14 million per month. Looking at the averages, May was as good as any other month so far this year if not a little better. The tax revenue numbers could be improving soon. What about Encore Boston Harbor? Encore Boston Harbor just opened days ago, so a revenue report won't be filed until September for July's receipts. Even then, that report won't tell much about how the new casino is performing. The first report spanning a full month from Encore won't be available until October when receipts for August are filed. At that time we'll get some idea of how Encore is faring and how having new competition has affected MGM and Plainridge. Naturally, revenue at all three facilities could increase if Massachusetts sports betting became legal. When that could happen is anyone's guess, as the Massachusetts legislature seems unmotivated to make sports betting in Massachusetts legal anytime soon, although there is a hearing scheduled this week. May for MGM and Plainridge wasn't a banner month, but it was an improvement from April and par for the course for 2019.
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With sports betting in Massachusetts tentatively set to launch early next year, preparations are under way throughout the state. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is still hashing out the details, but retail sports betting in MA is tentatively slated to launch in January. With the upcoming launch, a trio of Massachusetts towns are gearing up for increased activity in their area.

The towns of Wrentham, Foxborough and Plainville have announced a partnership to launch what officials are calling a new “destination brand” and website. The goal of the partnership is to promote the region to travelers.

Stay Longer, Play More

Each of the three communities in the partnership have a lot to offer, and officials are hoping to put them on display. Learning what each community has to offer is a focal point of the partnership. That is evident with the tagline of “Stay a little longer, play a little more!”

Wrentham Director of Planning & Economic Development Rachel Benson said “Our visitors and community members tell us again and again that there is so much to do in the area – from Big Apple Farm to F. Gilbert Hills State Forest to Hawkins Woods Disc Golf, it’s what sets us apart from other destinations. That’s what our new brand emphasizes in a fresh, modern way.”

The initiative between the three towns was supported by grants provided by the MGC and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism.

Also read: Why DraftKings Massachusetts Hoped For A Universal Launch

Retail Sports Betting At Plainridge Park

Touting destinations like Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, Wrentham Village Premium Outlet Mall in Wrentham, and Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro is a focal point of the partnership.

Plainridge Park Casino is slated to be a Massachusetts retail betting location when the sports betting industry launches in the state. PENN Entertainment operates Plainridge Park, and the facility has already applied for a sports betting license. That application is expected to be approved, meaning there will soon be a Barstool Sportsbook Massachusetts location at Plainridge Park Casino. (PENN owns Plainridge Park, and it uses the Barstool Sportsbook brand.)

The MGC expects retail sports betting to launch by January 2023. That would mean that sports fans in MA could be able to bet on Super Bowl 57 in February. Massachusetts mobile betting apps are expected to launch later in late February or early March.

Plainridge Park has run slots and harness races since 2015. It is the lone slots parlor that the state allows under the Expanded Gaming Act, which opened the possibility of casino gambling in Massachusetts in 2011. It remains the only live racing track in Massachusetts.

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Written by
Connor Grootenhuis

Connor Grootenhuis is the Managing Editor for PlayMA covering all things gambling and sports betting in Massachusetts. Based in the Bayou State of Louisiana, he is a lifelong sports fan who believes that every loss is a bad beat and every win is easy money.

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