Encore Boston Harbor Strike Slashes Casino Revenue by 22%

The Massachusetts casino Encore Boston Harbor saw a steep drop in gaming revenue in September, as a strike by about 1,350 workers continued to affect the property. The slowdown also has taken a bite out of state tax revenue, prompting gambling regulators to underscore the financial impact of the continuing labor dispute. Massachusetts Loses Casino Tax Revenue as Encore Strike Continues The Everett casino brought in $46.1 million in gaming revenue during September, down more than 22% from the same month in 2025. The property generated about $11.5 million in tax revenue for Massachusetts, down from $14.8 million a year earlier, reported CBS News. The most recent numbers represent Encore’s smallest monthly tax contribution in more than five years. Jordan Maynard, the chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, spoke about the results at a meeting on Thursday, October 22, and said he hoped the dispute would be resolved soon. The reduced casino earnings have an impact beyond the gambling industry, Commissioner Paul Brodeur said. Less taxes means less money for the state, and that hurts public services like education and health care. The walkout began on September 4, after the workers’ collective bargaining agreement with Wynn Resorts expired on August 31. Bartenders, housekeepers, servers, slot attendants, and cashiers are among the workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25. The unions are demanding better wages, benefits, and working conditions. Picket lines have been set up outside the property, asking patrons to support their action by not going to the casino until a deal is made. Encore Strike Disrupts Operations as Negotiations Remain Limited The decrease in revenue was due to customers not crossing the picket lines, said UNITE HERE Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo. Tom Mari, president of Teamsters Local 25, noted that the latest numbers show how important the employees who keep the resort running are. Meanwhile, Encore said it had made a substantial financial offer in September and was waiting for a response from the unions. The company has said a lasting deal would benefit its workforce, the thousands of jobs that depend on the resort, and Massachusetts, with taxes generated by casino operations. There have been few formal negotiations since the strike started, but the parties have said they have been talking recently. Despite Encore’s poor showing, Massachusetts was still collecting revenue from its other two casinos. MGM Springfield’s gaming revenue for September was about $22 million, a little less than a year ago. Plainridge Park Casino reported $14.6 million, a slight year-over-year gain. The two properties combined produced about $12.7 million for the state in the month. Encore is still the largest casino in Massachusetts, but its performance still carries a lot of weight in the state’s gambling tax receipts. The strike was called after workers voted to sanction strike action in August. The move comes amid a backdrop of previous disputes over pay and working conditions, including a similar labor dispute that was settled with a new deal in 2023. The latest figures for revenue give a better indication of the financial impact the strike could have. Other measures such as the number of visitors and the staffing levels would give a fuller picture of the effect of the strike on the resort. The walkout is ongoing, putting pressure on both sides to reach a settlement that would restore normal operations and stabilize the casino’s contribution to state finances.