Casinos and Sports Betting Deliver Major Tax Windfall for Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported today that the month of February 2025 at Plainridge Park Casino (PPC), MGM Springfield (MGM), and Encore Boston Harbor (EBH) generated approximately $92 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).

Additionally, approximately $76.13 million in taxable sports wagering revenue (TSWR) was generated across the seven mobile/online sports wagering licensees and the three in-person licensees for the month of February.

Gross Gaming Revenue (casino gaming)

PPC, a category 2 slots facility, is taxed on 49% of GGR. Of that total taxed amount, 82% is paid to Local Aid and 18% is allotted to the Race Horse Development Fund. MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor, category 1 resort-casinos, are taxed on 25% of GGR; those monies are allocated to several specific state funds as determined by the gaming statute.

Since each gaming facility opened, the Commonwealth has collected approximately $2.355 billion in total taxes and assessments from the casino operations of PPC, MGM, and Encore.

View comprehensive revenue reports for each gaming licensee here.

Sports Wagering Revenue

EBH, MGM, and PPC are licensed as Category 1 Sports Wagering Operators, which allows them to operate a retail sportsbook at their respective property. Category 1 operators are taxed on 15% of TSWR.

Bally Bet, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPNBet, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, and FanDuel are licensed as Category 3 Sports Wagering Operators, which allows them to operate a mobile or online sportsbook. Category 3 Sports Wagering Operators are taxed on 20% of TWSR.

Of the total taxed amount for all operators, 45% is allotted to the General Fund, 17.5% to the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, 27.5% to the Gaming Local Aid Fund, 1% to the Youth Development and Achievement Fund, and 9% to the Public Health Trust Fund.

To date, the Commonwealth has collected approximately $425.18 million in total taxes and assessments from licensed operators’ sports wagering operations since sports wagering began in person on January 31, 2023, and online on March 10, 2023.

When an operator’s adjusted gross sports wagering receipts for a month is a negative number because the winnings paid to wagerers and excise taxes paid pursuant to federal law exceed the operator’s total gross receipts from sports wagering, the Sports Wagering Law allows the operator to carry over the negative amount in tax liability to returns filed for subsequent months.

View comprehensive revenue reports for each sports wagering operator here.