Massachusetts strong; Housekeepers under threat

Gambling win was down only 17% in Massachusetts last month for a statewide gross of $71 million. Plainridge Park posted $10 million for an average of $273/win/slot/day (it was $325 the previous August), dropping 16% on 16% less coin-in. So far it’s tracking down 27% for the year, versus JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff‘s -35% projection. MGM Springfield slipped 12% to $18.5 million, with slots down 10% ($178/win/slot/day) and tables off 17%. Encore Boston Harbor, gobbling up the Bay State with 60% market share, grossed a whopping $42.5 million, threatening Plainridge Park with $238 win/slot/day for a $23 million haul, while tables won $4,301/table/day. Slot handle was $305 million, down 15%. Considering all the hurdles Massachusetts casinos have had to overcome we’d say these results are better than expected.

The American Lung Association was quick to praise MGM Resorts International for its smokeless Park MGM and up the ante: “We applaud the decision of MGM Resort [sic] International for adopting a smokefree workplace policy for Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas. This policy will protect the health of workers and customers from dangerous secondhand smoke and e-cigarette emissions. Most of MGM Resort [sic] International’s U.S. properties are now at least temporarily smokefree, and we encourage them to make all U.S. properties smokefree permanently.” We can hope, can’t we?