Encore Boston Harbor Reports Record Low Gaming Revenue in September 2026 as Strike Continues

Data from the September 2026 monthly casino revenue report shows Encore Boston Harbor posted its lowest gross gaming revenue in more than five years when the facility recorded $46.1 million for the month, a 22 percent decline from the $59.1 million generated in September 2025, and the drop aligned directly with an ongoing labor action that began September 4, 2026 and involved more than 1,300 workers.

Slot coin-in at the Everett property fell roughly 20 percent during the same period while table game revenue also posted sharp reductions, according to figures compiled by state regulators and referenced across multiple news outlets including Boston.com coverage of the commission data.

Strike Timeline and Workforce Impact

The work stoppage started on September 4 and continued through the entire month, directly affecting daily operations at the resort that includes both gaming floors and supporting hospitality services, and observers tracking casino performance note that the timing produced measurable effects on player activity and overall handle across multiple departments.

More than 1,300 employees participated in the action, which limited staffing levels for table games, slot maintenance, and guest services while management adjusted schedules to maintain basic functionality, and this situation created visible differences in customer flow compared with the same month one year earlier when no such disruption existed.

Segment-Specific Performance Changes

Slot activity experienced the clearest measurable slowdown as coin-in dropped about 20 percent, a decline that translated into lower overall slot revenue even before accounting for any changes in hold percentage or player behavior, and analysts reviewing the monthly numbers point to reduced machine utilization as a primary factor behind the shortfall.

Table game revenue likewise contracted sharply during September 2026, reflecting fewer open tables and reduced hours in certain pit areas because of staffing constraints, while the combined effect across both gaming verticals produced the facility's weakest monthly result since before 2021.

Comparison With Other Massachusetts Casinos

Statewide data placed the Encore Boston Harbor results in contrast with the performance of MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino, both of which posted relatively steady revenue figures for September 2026 compared with the prior year, and regulators note that neither of those properties experienced similar labor disruptions during the same reporting period.

The divergence highlights how localized operational challenges at one property can produce outsized effects on monthly totals without necessarily reflecting broader market trends across the Massachusetts gaming sector, and the commission's report separates these outcomes clearly in its facility-by-facility breakdown.

Context Within Ongoing Labor Negotiations

The strike that began September 4 remained active into October 2026, meaning the September revenue figures captured only the first full month of reduced operations while subsequent months would reflect any continuation of the same conditions, and state officials continue to monitor weekly activity reports to track recovery once staffing returns to normal levels.

Those reviewing the September 2026 monthly casino revenue report see the data as a snapshot of how quickly gaming volume can shift when workforce availability changes suddenly, and the numbers released by the commission provide the clearest public record of the financial impact during that specific window.

Conclusion

The September 2026 figures establish a clear connection between the start of the labor action at Encore Boston Harbor and the facility's lowest monthly gross gaming revenue in more than five years, with the $46.1 million total reflecting declines in both slot coin-in and table game revenue while other Massachusetts casinos maintained steadier results, and the commission data continues to serve as the primary source for tracking how the situation evolves in the months ahead.