Encore Boston Harbor gaming revenue falls over 22% in September as workers' strike continues

Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts, reported $46.1 million in gaming revenue for September, a fall of more than 22% from the same month in 2025. The decline comes as a strike by about 1,350 workers continues at the property.

The casino generated roughly $11.5 million in tax revenue for the state, compared with $14.8 million a year earlier. According to CBS News, this is Encore's smallest monthly tax contribution in more than five years. Massachusetts Gaming Commission chair Jordan Maynard discussed the figures at a meeting on Thursday, October 22, and said he hoped the dispute would be resolved soon. Commissioner Paul Brodeur noted that lower tax receipts mean less funding for public services such as education and health care.

The walkout began on September 4, after the workers' collective bargaining agreement with Wynn Resorts expired on August 31. The employees, who include bartenders, housekeepers, servers, slot attendants and cashiers, are represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25. The unions are seeking better wages, benefits and working conditions, and have set up picket lines asking patrons to stay away from the casino until a deal is reached.

UNITE HERE Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo attributed the revenue drop to customers declining to cross the picket lines. Tom Mari, president of Teamsters Local 25, said the figures show how important the employees are to running the resort. Encore said it made a substantial financial offer in September and is awaiting a response from the unions. The company argues that a lasting agreement would benefit its workforce, the jobs that depend on the resort, and the state through casino taxes. Formal negotiations have been limited since the strike started, though the parties say they have been in recent contact.

The state's other two casinos continued to perform. MGM Springfield reported gaming revenue of about $22 million, slightly lower than a year earlier, while Plainridge Park Casino posted $14.6 million, a modest year-on-year increase. Together the two properties produced about $12.7 million for the state in September. Encore remains the largest casino in Massachusetts, so its results carry significant weight in overall gambling tax receipts.

Workers voted in August to authorize a strike. A previous labor dispute at the property was settled with a new agreement in 2023. With the walkout ongoing, pressure is growing on both sides to reach a settlement that would restore normal operations and stabilize the casino's contribution to state finances.