Best Slots At Encore Boston
Massachusetts has a long history of rebellion and individualism.
The home of the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere has historically yielded passionate, hardworking, freethinking individuals.
Encore Boston Harbor Slots Stopped Working Briefly Friday Due to Technical Glitch. Posted on: February 22, 2020, 04:50h. Last updated on: February 23, 2020, 11:30h.
- The casino at Encore Boston Harbor brings glamour on a grand scale to the Mystic riverfront. Enter the main floor—open and airy, colorful and vibrant, with 40-foot ceilings, Red Rubino glass chandeliers, and a dazzling array of classic and state-of-the-art slot machines for every player, at every level.
- Jun 10, 2019 Encore Boston Harbor: Everett’s Mystic River casino by the numbers. 3,158 slot machines, 231 table games, and 800 trees more than 15 feet tall—these and other stats on eastern Massachusetts.
It’s a bit surprising Massachusetts has taken so long to come to the party on casino gambling.
However, it is happening – right now.
Read on for more information about current legal gambling options in the state, how the stage is set for expansion of casino gambling in Massachusetts, and for details on how online lottery and online gambling could also be making their way to the Bay State.
Sweepstakes casinos in Massachusetts
Social casino site options
Bay Staters can make use of all social casino sites available in most states. Slotomania, DoubleDown, BigFish, and Zynga are all available via Facebook or mobile device apps. They may also play on the Plainridge Casino site, which maintains a Play4fun network site due to the fact that the casino is owned by Penn National Gaming (which owns the Hollywood Casino chains). The advantage of playing on this site is that it allows Massachusetts residents to get a free preview of the offerings at Plainridge.
Background on expanded gambling in Massachusetts
In 2011, Massachusetts passed the Expanded Gaming Act. The law allowed for three Las Vegas-style casinos and one slots parlor to be constructed in the state. Specifically, the law divided Massachusetts into three regions. It allowed for one casino per region. Four years later, the Plainridge Park Casino (the slots parlor) opened to great fanfare in Plainville, Massachusetts. As evidence of approval for gambling in the state, the casino reached its allowed building capacity within a few hours, and cashiers were temporarily running out of money.
MGM Springfield opened on August 24, 2018, to fanfare and festivities. The nearly $1 billion property is located in the south end of Springfield and could be an economic shot in the arm for the city and region. (This is Region B under the law and covers the western third of the state.)
Encore Boston Harbor, opened June 2019. Originally named Wynn Everett and then Wynn Boston Harbor, it is a $2.5 billion property located in the Boston suburb of Everett. Under the law, this casino will serve RegionA, which is the middle third of the state. (It includes Boston, the state’s capital and largest city).
What remains is RegionC, the eastern third of the state, which includes Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. This is an important area because of the overall wealth. The lag on its development is largely due to ongoing court battles with the two federally recognized (and therefore eligible) Native American tribes in Massachusetts.
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe wants to build a $1 billion facility in Taunton. Resistance from residents is delaying the construction. At this point, it is still up in the air whether the tribe can proceed. The other tribe, the Aquinnah Wampanoag, resides on Martha’s Vineyard. They may have a better shot at approval from the court system, but nothing has been decided so far.
For now, Massachusetts can look forward to the three current mega-resorts underway in the state. In general, things have not been so dire in Massachusetts because of the state’s relatively small land area and its proximity to casinos in other states.
Residents and visitors to the state have two options in Rhode Island for slot play. There is the Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Newport Grand Casino in Newport. Beyond that, Bay Staters can also visit Connecticut’sMohegan Sun in Uncasville or Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket. All four of these casinos are fewer than two hours’ drive from most of Massachusetts.
Below is information on Massachusetts casinos and the other excellent nearby options.
Land-based slots options
| Property | Location | Number of Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Plainridge Park Casino | Plainview, MA | 1,250 |
| MGM Springfield | Springfield, MA | 2,550 |
| Encore Boston Harbor | Everett, MA | 2,800+ |
| Mohegan Sun Casino | Uncasville, CT | 5,000 |
| Foxwoods Casino | Mashantucket, CT | 4,800 |
Massachusetts Sports Betting
As of now, sports betting has yet to materialize in the Commonwealth. However, a new bill, which would authorize sports betting for various outlets, recently passed through the House and sent on to the Senate.
Massachusetts sports betting would be authorized for:
- Three commercial casinos
- A single slot parlor
- Horse racing tracks
- 5 online-only operators
In the Senate, though, the proposal stalled. But that does not mean hope is lost.
Massachusetts could still find a way to legalize wagering, as the legislature holds an informal session throughout the calendar year, during which time lawmakers will certainly discuss the industry’s legalization.
Online gambling options
Massachusetts does not have laws directly addressing online gaming one way or the other. As in many states, the legal framework simply hasn’t caught up to reality yet.
However, Massachusetts has shown itself to be relatively agreeable to the notion of online gambling, as it was one of the few states to legalize daily fantasy sports betting. It’s possible that expansion to other forms of online gambling and sports betting will occur in the near future.
State legal environment
| Permitted/Offered? | Notes & Restrictions | |
|---|---|---|
| Land-based Gambling | Yes | One slots parlor; two more casinos under construction |
| Online Gambling | No | No law for or against |
| Lottery | Yes | State and multistate drawings available |
| Charitable or House-based Gambling | Yes | Raffles and bingo |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 18 for horse/dog racing, lottery, bingo, and pari-mutuel; 21 for casinos |
Introduction to Massachusetts Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Massachusetts slot machine casino gambling consists of two large Category One resort casinos, one small Category Two slots parlor, and a cruise ship with an onboard casino sailing to international destinations.
Massachusetts has set a minimum theoretical payout limit and monthly return statistics are publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Massachusetts*
The minimum legal gambling age in Massachusetts depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Since 2011, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has had three gaming regions, each with one casino resort gaming license:
- Eastern Region A: This license went to MGM, who constructed a casino in downtown Springfield. It opened on August 24, 2018.
- Western Region B: This license went to Wynn Resorts, who constructed Encore Boston Harbor in Everett. It opened on June 23, 2019.
- Southeastern Region C: No license awarded.
Massachusetts gaming regulations define large Category 1 casino resorts and small Category 2 slots parlors as follows:
- Category One casino:
- Pay a daily tax of 25% of gross gaming revenue
- Appropriate documentation of infrastructure improvements onsite and around the vicinity of the gaming establishment
- Category Two casino:
- Pay a daily tax of 40% of gross gaming revenue
- Pay an additional daily assessment of 9% of its gross gaming revenue
- Appropriate documentation of infrastructure improvements
- Limited to 1,500 gaming positions
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Massachusetts
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in Massachusetts if it is 30 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, known as Mass Gaming, became law on November 22, 2011 when Governor Deval Patrick signed the Expanded Gaming Act.
Casinos in Massachusetts
There are three non-tribal casinos and one cruise ship based in Massachusetts.
The largest casino in Massachusetts is Encore Boston Harbor with 2,800 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is MGM Springfield with 2,550 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has three land-based casinos including:
- Encore Boston Harbor in Everett located 5 miles north of downtown Boston.
- MGM Springfield located 92 miles west of Boston and 26 miles north of Hartford, Connecticut.
- Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville located 36 miles southwest of Boston and 22 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island.
A cruise ship sailing out of the Port of Boston is the NCL Dawn. The ship offers onboard gambling via slot machines and table games when traveling in international waters.
Tribal Casinos in Massachusetts
In 2012, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe have an approved tribal-state gaming compact to offer tribal gaming in Southeastern Massachusetts. This Region C includes the counties of Bristol, Plymouth, Nantucket, Dukes, and Barnstable.
Subsequently, construction started on The First Light Resort & Casino in Taunton. However, progress has slowed due to lawsuits. Construction has been on hold since mid-2016. It is uncertain whether the casino will ever open.
Another tribal casino may yet open in Massachusetts as it would not require a state gaming license but instead be subject to the federal IGRA. The Aquinnah Cliffs Casino located in Martha’s Vineyard would offer 250 Class II, bingo-style competition games. However, it, too, has also been subject to lawsuits which has delayed its completion.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Massachusetts slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Massachusetts is:
- North: New Hampshire Slots and Vermont Slots
- East: The Atlantic Ocean
- South: Connecticut Slots and Rhode Island Slots
- West: New York Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Massachusetts.
Our Massachusetts Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Massachusetts? If so, join our new Massachusetts slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Massachusetts. Join us!
Payout Returns in Massachusetts
Massachusetts law has set a minimum theoretical payout of 80% for gaming machines.
Monthly revenue reports for each casino are publicly available from Mass Gaming. These reports offer monthly casino hold percentages as well as player win percentages. Note that these return statistics are referred to, somewhat misleadingly, as payout%.
The January 2020 player win percentage for each casino is:
- Encore Boston Harbor: 92.63%
- MGM Springfield: 91.60%
- Plainridge Park: 92.37%
In January 2020, Encore Boston Harbor has the highest player win percentage. However, for the prior five months, Plainridge Park had the highest payout win percentage.
Summary of Massachusetts Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Massachusetts slot machine casino gambling consists of two casino resorts, a slots parlor, and a cruise ship offering an onboard casino when traveling to international destinations.
The minimum theoretical payout for slot machines is 80%. Monthly actual return statistics are publicly available for each casino.
Annual Progress in Massachusetts Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, Encore Boston Harbor opened in Everett. This is the second year in a row that a large casino resort has opened in Massachusetts.
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By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC