Non-Indian casino in Massachusetts already sees drop in revenue

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

A slot machine payout at the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, Massachusetts. Photo from Facebook

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Revenues at the first gaming facility in Massachusetts have been falling despite a strong debut.

The Plainridge Park Casino opened on June 24 and gamblers spent an impressive $182.6 million in July, the first full month of operation. Revenues totaled $18.1 million, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

But the coin in fell to $166.2 million in August and $146.7 million in September. Revenues dropped to $15.2 million and $12.6 million for those months, respectively.

“The numbers are slightly below what we expected,” Tim Wilmott, the CEO of Penn National Gaming, told columnist Shirley Leung of The Boston Globe. “But it’s still a very good return on our investment here.”

The New England Casino Race: Tribal and commercial gaming facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island

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The outlook improved slightly in October, the last month for which figures are available. The coin in was $149.1 million and revenues were $12.9 million, according to the commission.

Plainridge is less than 20 miles from the city of Taunton, where the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe plans to build the First Light Resort and Casino. The facility is expected to take a hit once tribe opens but that won't occur for at least another year.