Since March of 2020, casinos in the United States have tried to get back some to some sense of normalcy. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, venues were shut down and had zero revenues coming in. After reopening to lower capacity numbers and steadily increasing how many people are allowed inside, casinos have been on the way to recovery. However, it has taken time and many states have yet to see pre-pandemic revenue numbers. For Massachusetts, the state was able to hit higher revenues in March, seeing a turnaround during the pandemic. The casinos in the state reached pre-pandemic levels last month and hope the earnings totals continue.
Solid March Earnings
For March, the casinos in Massachusetts had a strong month of revenues. The venues were able to see numbers from before the pandemic, which was a welcome sight. According to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor, and Plainridge Park brought in $84 million. This was the highest revenue month in the state since February of last year.
The numbers are a high point and encouraging for the venues as the pandemic is still an issue in the United States. Capacity restrictions are still in play at the venues and health protocols must be followed. It was surprising to see the totals jump so high especially since tourism levels have been down due to COVID-19.
The revenue totals in Massachusetts as well as other states that are seeing a high return seem to indicate that there is a pent-up demand for casino entertainment. It is still too early to tell fully, but players are visiting the casinos more often, enjoying dining, drinks, and of course, casino games.
It will take a few months to be able to tell if the month of March is the first step on the road to economic recovery or if it was simply just a good revenue month. Looking at April and May will help to determine if the turnaround is taking place.
Revenue Breakdown by Casino
Looking at the individual casino totals, it shows that MGM Springfield brought in $22.1 million for the month. This was a big jump for the company, actually higher than totals going back to 2019. Plainridge Park earned $12.2 million. The casino property offers only slot games so it is always in last place due to no table game options.
Encore Boston Harbor earned the most for the state, bringing in $49.7 million. The majority of the earnings came from the slot games. In the past, the table games were the big driver of revenue. However, it seems that players are taking to the slot games more than ever before. The month was the largest earner for the venue since February of last year.
The next few months should see continual increases in revenue earnings. The gaming commission just recently allowed craps to start back up again. Blackjack tables have also expanded the number of players it allows. This additional offering should help the casinos to bring in more revenues than the month before.
