How Many Slots At Massachusetts Casinos Now vs. Before COVID?
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As of March 2023, the three Massachusetts casinos had a total of 4,907 slot machines.
That’s according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which revealed that number during Thursday’s meeting.
This month marks the three-year anniversary of when the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold and forced business operations to change across the US and around the world. In March 2020, Massachusetts casinos boasted 5,879 slot machines — 972 more than they have today.
Tracking slot machine totals at MA casinos
Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino closed for several months at the start of the pandemic. Then, when they re-opened in July 2020, they significantly reduced their slot machines total to 3,510 — a cut of 2,369 machines — in order to accomadate the social distancing required to help keep customers safe.
Two years later, in July 2022, Massachusetts casinos swelled their slot machines total up to 5,192. Now, eight months after that, that total has reduced slightly, in part to make room for retail sportsbooks that launched Jan. 31.
Encore Boston Harbor leads the way with 2,464 slot machines. MGM Springfield has the second-most at 1,506. And Plainridge Park Casino currently offers 937.
Encore Boston Harbor also has 203 table games — actually 17 more than March 2020 — and MGM Springfield has 48 — 31 fewer than March 2020. In addition, EBH offers guests 24 poker tables (74 in March 2020) and MGM has 14 (22 in March 2020).
Plainridge Park Casino only has slot machines, in addition to its harness horse racetrack and simulcast facility.
Other news on casinos in Massachusetts
Massachusetts casinos reported $98 million in February revenue. That’s a 1.1% increase from January’s $96.9 million revenue, despite there being three fewer days in January. This could be due to increased foot traffic from retail sports betting going live at all three casinos on Jan. 31.
Encore Boston Harbor plans to expand its gambling amenities into a new development across the street. That new development will include a second sports betting area beyond the main casino’s WynnBET Sportsbook, a poker room, 20,000 square feet of restaurant space, a live entertainment venue and nightclub, a 2,200-spot parking garage and a pedestrian bridge connecting the new development to the original casino resort.
Currently, there are no plans to add more slot machines or table games as part of this expansion project.
