Encore Boston Harbor Sees Five-Year Low in Gaming Revenue as Strike Persists

Encore Boston Harbor, Massachusetts’ largest casino, recorded its lowest monthly gross gaming revenue in more than five years during September 2026 amid an ongoing strike by over 1,300 workers that began on September 4, and observers note this development comes as labor actions continue into October with no immediate resolution reported by the parties involved.

Revenue Figures Show Significant Decline

Gross gaming revenue fell 22% year-over-year to $46.1 million from $59.1 million in September 2025, while slot coin-in dropped 20.3% to $354.4 million, and state gaming tax collections from the property also declined to $11.5 million according to the September 2026 Casino Revenue Report. These numbers reflect a sharp contraction tied directly to the labor disruption, and data shows the property struggled to maintain normal operations throughout the month as union members walked picket lines outside the facility.

Those who've tracked casino performance in the region point out that the strike coincided with the start of the reporting period, which limited staffing levels and affected multiple departments from gaming floors to hospitality services. The revenue shortfall marks the weakest monthly total since before 2021, and figures reveal a consistent pattern where reduced workforce availability led to fewer open tables, shorter operating hours in certain areas, and lower overall visitor throughput.

Strike Details and Operational Impact

The strike, which began on September 4 and involved more than 1,300 workers, centered on contract negotiations between the casino and its unionized staff, and reports indicate the action remained active well into October without a settlement. This prolonged dispute created ongoing challenges for daily operations, including delays in service delivery and restrictions on which gaming options remained fully available to patrons throughout the period.

State regulators continued to monitor the situation closely, and the September 2026 Casino Revenue Report captures the direct financial effects across key metrics like gross gaming revenue and tax remittances. Casino management adjusted schedules and deployed available personnel to priority areas, yet the reduced capacity still translated into measurable drops in coin-in and overall handle, particularly on the slot floor where traffic slowed noticeably.

Comparison to Other Massachusetts Properties

Other Massachusetts casinos, including MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park, saw relatively stable results during the same September period, which highlights how the labor action remained localized to Encore Boston Harbor rather than reflecting broader market conditions. MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park maintained consistent revenue streams without similar disruptions, and analysts tracking the state’s gaming sector note that the contrast underscores the strike’s specific role in the revenue decline at the Everett property.

Data from the September 2026 Casino Revenue Report places the three properties side by side, showing that only Encore experienced the double-digit percentage drops across gross gaming revenue and slot coin-in. This divergence allowed the other venues to capture some displaced visitation, though exact shifts in player traffic between properties were not detailed in the primary figures released.

Tax Collections and State Revenue Effects

State gaming tax collections from Encore Boston Harbor fell to $11.5 million for the month, a direct reflection of the lower gross gaming revenue base, and officials continue to review how the strike might influence quarterly distributions to host communities. The tax figure represents the portion remitted to Massachusetts based on the property’s reported handle, and the reduction aligns proportionally with the 22% drop in overall gaming revenue.

Because the strike extended beyond September, those monitoring state finances anticipate similar pressures could appear in October reports if operations do not return to normal staffing levels quickly. The September numbers therefore serve as an early indicator of the financial ripple effects tied to the labor dispute, and the report provides a clear baseline for future month-over-month comparisons once the situation resolves.

Conclusion

The September 2026 performance at Encore Boston Harbor illustrates how a sustained labor action can compress revenue metrics at a major gaming facility, and the data captured in the September 2026 Casino Revenue Report documents the scale of that compression through gross gaming revenue, slot coin-in, and tax collections. With the strike still active into October, the property faces continued operational constraints that may shape results in subsequent reporting periods, while neighboring casinos maintained steadier outcomes during the same timeframe.