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Thanks to a surge in sports betting revenue, Massachusetts’ total casino gaming revenue jumped $19.5 million from August to September, according to the latest data from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
The state’s three casinos generated $140.1 million in revenue, which includes money brought in through table games and slots, online sports betting, and retail sports betting.
Sports betting revenue breaks slump
Heading into September, Massachusetts’ 11 retail and online sportsbooks were struggling to match what they generated in March when online sportsbooks went live. Overall sports betting revenue had fallen to the lowest total on record in August.
The start of the NFL season snapped sports betting out of its summer slumber, though, pushing revenue from $22.7 million in August to $49.8 million in September (+119%), the third-best revenue month for sports betting this year.
DraftKings brought in the most revenue at $28.3 million, followed by FanDuel at $21.7 million and BetMGM at $4.6 million.
Here’s a look at how sports betting revenue has fared over the past nine months:
| Retail Revenue | Online Revenue | Total Revenue | Month-on-Month Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2023 | $783,017.39 | $49,026,912.17 | $49,809,929.56 | 119.34% |
| August 2023 | $157,782.30 | $22,551,157.96 | $22,708,940.26 | -22.78% |
| July 2023 | $576,138.69 | $28,832,914.14 | $29,409,052.83 | -8.68% |
| June 2023 | $153,922.55 | $32,050,672.53 | $32,204,595.08 | -47.18% |
| May 2023 | $1,559,828.35 | $59,410,840.40 | $60,970,668.75 | 3.49% |
| April 2023 | $364,481.54 | $58,548,295.26 | $58,912,776.80 | 25.10% |
| March 2023 | $1,455,304.43 | $45,637,352.16 | $47,092,656.59 | 3,204.05% |
| February 2023 | $1,425,300.97 | Wasn't legal | $1,425,300.97 | 15,188.25% |
| January 2023 | -$9,446.43 | Wasn't legal | -$9,446.43 | N/A |
Massachusetts casino revenue falls for third straight month
While sportsbooks had a nice bounce back in September, casinos did not. The state’s three casinos saw their lowest revenue totals of the year. Additionally, revenue fell for the third straight month.
Casino revenue includes dollars generated at table games and slot machines. In September, total casino revenue was $90.4 million, the lowest total of the year and a far cry from the $100.6 million generated in June.
Here’s how the monthly revenue totals for Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino have looked since January:
| Encore Boston Harbor | MGM Springfield | Plainridge Park | Total | Month-on-Month Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2023 | $59,820,850.47 | $17,443,073.79 | $13,125,723.80 | $90,389,648.06 | -7.70% |
| August 2023 | $61,320,321.54 | $23,525,299.32 | $13,079,840.00 | $97,925,460.86 | -0.73% |
| July 2023 | $61,276,166.88 | $23,514,534.87 | $13,851,914.27 | $98,642,616.02 | -1.94% |
| June 2023 | $65,495,804.62 | $22,211,802.81 | $12,890,231.78 | $100,597,839.21 | 1.92% |
| May 2023 | $62,541,793.67 | $23,346,544.27 | $12,812,924.90 | $98,701,262.84 | -2.43% |
| April 2023 | $63,984,183.14 | $23,735,696.18 | $13,444,345.44 | $101,164,224.76 | -3.24% |
| March 2023 | $66,211,969.89 | $24,079,637.77 | $14,256,239.09 | $104,547,846.75 | 6.68% |
| February 2023 | $62,705,178.76 | $23,257,490.95 | $12,040,729.95 | $98,003,399.66 | 1.16% |
| January 2023 | $61,856,924.44 | $22,853,749.75 | $12,166,668.78 | $96,877,342.97 | N/A |
According to the September 2023 revenue report, Encore and MGM saw their monthly revenue drop. Plainridge Park, however, was the bright spot: Its revenue nudged up slightly month-on-month.
Looking ahead to October
Based on numbers from 2022, we should see casino revenue fall in October and November before spiking in December. On the sports betting side, revenue totals should rise over the next three months thanks to the NFL regular season.
We’ll likely see total revenue numbers exceed $140 million by the end of the year, with December possibly bringing in $155 million or more.
