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MGC Newsletter
Spring 2024
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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission recently released its 2023 Annual Report, detailing the Commission’s operations from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. The 2023 Annual Report is the MGC’s twelfth since its formation.
The report covers a wide range of topics from financial updates, recommendations for legislative action, results on licensee workforce and supplier diversity goals, casino property and project summaries, division reports, and is the first report to feature details about legalized sports wagering, which began at the Commonwealth’s casinos in January 2023 and on mobile platforms in March 2023.
“The Commission’s Annual Report is an important publication detailing all that was accomplished over the last fiscal year on behalf of the residents of the Commonwealth,” said Interim Commission Chair Jordan Maynard. “The work to regulate and oversee the casino, horse racing, and sports wagering industries in the Commonwealth takes a dedicated team committed to ensuring those industries prioritize consumers and focus on responsible gaming. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is pleased to present this report, which details our commitment to transparent policy making, nation-leading research, and industry standard innovations.”
FY23 saw an expansion of the Commission’s regulatory responsibilities with the signing of An Act to Regulate Sports Wagering. Within six months of the bill being signed into law, the Commission launched in-person sports wagering followed by mobile sports betting just over a month later. In all, the Commission granted 11 Certificates of Operations to sports wagering operators, which generated $228.7 million in adjusted gross sports wagering revenue across the fiscal year, accounting for more than $44 million in sports wagering tax revenue.
Gross Gaming Revenue reached $1.2 billion in FY23, generating $320.7 million in tax revenue for the Commonwealth.
The Commission is committed to promoting responsible gaming and providing tools for patrons to manage their play in the form of programs like the Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) Program and PlayMyWay. During FY23, 1,430 individuals enrolled in the VSE program, which allows people to voluntarily exclude themselves from casino gambling and/or sports wagering for a predetermined amount of time. More than 42,000 people also enrolled in PlayMyWay, a free budgeting tool that lets players track their play and receive automatic notifications as they get closer to their pre-set budget amount. Massachusetts is the first and only state to offer a program like PlayMyWay, which is available at all three Massachusetts casinos.
The Commission has also supported a wide range of gambling-related research projects, of which six were released in FY23, with more than 60 reports published since 2014. This robust library of research is available for public review here.
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MGC Commissioners, Staff Join Mass Cultural Center in Celebrating $3.66M in Grant Awards for Performing Arts Centers |
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Last week, Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) Interim Chair Jordan Maynard, Commissioner Brad Hill, and Executive Director Dean Serpa were on hand at Worcester’s Hanover Theatre and Conservatory as the Mass Cultural Council announced awards of $3.66M to performing arts centers across the Commonwealth. The grants were awarded with monies allocated from casino gaming revenue taxes.
Fifty-eight nonprofit or municipal performing arts centers across 39 cities and towns received grant awards, which ranged from $6,000 to $200,000.
“Supporting our performing arts centers is a strategic investment in the vitality of our communities,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, the Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council.
“These organizations serve as hubs of creativity, offering transformative experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire audiences of all ages. By supporting these institutions, we not only preserve our cultural heritage but also foster innovation, economic growth, and social cohesion, ensuring a vibrant and enriching future for generations to come.”
Interim Chair Maynard echoed Director Bobbitt’s statement of investment and opportunity in his remarks to the assembled audience. Maynard shared personal stories from his childhood in eastern Kentucky where his family had limited access to live performing arts, emphasizing the vital and tangible impact these grants will have on communities across Massachusetts.
“The Massachusetts Cultural Council is an exceptional agency in the Commonwealth, providing critical support to arts and culture organizations from the Cape to the Berkshires,” Maynard said.
“The MGC is proud to partner with the Mass Cultural Council by advancing efforts to provide nonprofits and municipalities with grants to bring more touring programs and acts to Massachusetts.”
To learn more about the Mass Cultural Council and their mission to advance “the Commonwealth’s creative and cultural sector by celebrating traditions and talents, championing its collective needs, and equitably investing public resources,” visit their website here.
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In an effort to combat human trafficking in regions housing casinos, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has announced the allocation of grants to enhance law enforcement efforts as well as the study of casino-related crime impacts in the state. Evidence has shown that traffickers utilize casinos, and given that increased risk, the MGC has pledged its ongoing commitment to address this critical issue.
Grants awarded through the Community Mitigation Fund will be aimed at increasing capacity of law enforcement agencies and providing agencies with the necessary resources to expand their teams, enabling them to handle a greater volume of cases and address the issue both regionally and statewide. By investing in additional staff, these agencies will be better equipped to investigate, prosecute, and prevent instances of human trafficking. The Commission awarded grants to the Attorney General’s Office and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. These awards will help the ongoing fight for those involved in human trafficking while looking to identify and address its root causes.
The Commission’s work also includes an ongoing commitment to study and assess the social and economic impacts of casino gambling. As part of its annual research agenda, the MGC has awarded $160,000 to Safe Exit Initiative to conduct a study to investigate the influence of casinos and casino-resorts on sex trafficking in the Commonwealth. The scope for this study was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders from state and local public safety, the Human Trafficking Division at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, advocacy services, health services, research, and human services. Funding for the Commission’s research comes from the Public Health Trust Fund.
“These initiatives underscore the MGC’s unwavering dedication to prioritizing the safety and well-being of individuals within our communities by prosecuting human trafficking and protecting vulnerable populations,” said Interim MGC Chair Jordan Maynard. “These grants represent a significant investment in our collective efforts to combat human trafficking by providing agencies with the necessary information and resources.”
In collaborating with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders, and funding critical research, the Commission continues to develop comprehensive strategies to address human trafficking effectively. Through this collaboration and proactive measures, the Commission aims to mitigate the impact of human trafficking and uphold the integrity of casino communities.
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Massachusetts Gaming Commission Grants $1.5M in Workforce Development Initiatives to Boost Career Training across Commonwealth |
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During a public meeting on April 11, 2024, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) voted to fund a pair of Workforce Development Grants through the MGC’s Community Mitigation Fund (CMF). Those initiatives aim to provide comprehensive career training opportunities to individuals living in the vicinity of Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield. The applicants – the MassHire Metro North Workforce Board and Holyoke Community College’s Adult Education and Workforce Development Program – were each awarded $750,000 for their respective projects.
“The grants that have been awarded from the Community Mitigation Fund to these important workforce development initiatives will empower individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue rewarding career opportunities,” said Interim MGC Chair Jordan Maynard. “The Community Mitigation Fund serves a vital role at the MGC and throughout the Commonwealth, providing robust, tangible impacts for citizens and communities across Massachusetts.”
The CMF was established under the Expanded Gaming Act, as part of legislature’s commitment to social responsibility reflecting a proactive approach to address the diverse needs of the local population by supporting communities and governmental entities in offsetting impacts related to the operation of gaming facilities.
“The support of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, through the Community Mitigation Fund, has enabled Holyoke Community College to provide training for critical Line Cook positions at MGM Resorts Springfield and other regional employers,” said Kermit Dunkelberg, Assistant Vice President of Adult Education and Workforce Development at Holyoke Community College. “Through our partnerships with Springfield Technical Community College and Springfield Public Schools, we also help adults attain high school equivalency, digital literacy and job readiness skills leading to employment. As a result of this support, we have provided opportunities to hundreds of adult job seekers since 2017, addressing the needs of the culinary-hospitality workforce in Hampden County, including MGM.”
The grant will be channeled into a range of workforce development programs, including but not limited to occupational training in relevant hospitality industries, skill-building workshops, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses, GED and HiSet certification, and digital literacy courses to enhance employability of applicants. Access to specialized certifications and credentials recognized by employers across various sectors will also be available.
“MassHire Metro North Workforce Board (MHMNWB) and its partners are thrilled to be able to continue the important work of the Metro Boston Regional Gaming and Hospitality Consortium (MBRGHC) through this grant,” said MHMNWB President and CEO Chris Albrizio-Lee. “We are appreciative of the Mass Gaming Commission and Encore Boston Harbor for their continued partnership, and we look forward to helping residents across the Metro Boston region connect with and prepare for high quality gaming and hospitality careers.”
Since 2015, the MGC has granted approximately $48 million in funding to advance needs in transportation, community planning, workforce development, and public safety initiatives for eligible municipalities and government entities located in the vicinity of Massachusetts casinos.
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Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health Host Gambling Research Conference |
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On Tuesday, May 14, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (Commission) and the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health (Council) hosted a one-day conference, which convened experts from healthcare, academia, industry, and government focused on responsible gaming and research. Initiated by the Commission, which has the most comprehensive regulator-supported research program in the country, the conference highlighted the potential to establish a game plan to promote healthy play, strengthen consumer protections, and provide consumers with essential resources.
In bringing together diverse stakeholders for this conference, organizers underscored the priorities underway in the states across New England and the focus necessary to impact the national conversation on responsible gaming.
Gambling is legal across the United Sates in different forms, from lottery and casino gambling to sports wagering, which has been legalized in 23 states and the District of Columbia since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2018. However, gambling doesn’t just exist in legal markets and didn’t only begin with legalization. Research presented during the conference illuminated how the black market has proliferated gambling for decades before legalization without regard for potential consequences or consumer protections. The benefits of legalization and regulation of gambling are the ability to ensure strong protections for those who choose to gamble and the ability to work between regulators, industry, and other stakeholders to understand the impact of these activities.
“Sports wagering and gambling are here as are the benefits those industries bring such as entertainment, jobs and revenue, but addiction is real and the harms to those suffering and their loved ones is devastating,” said Massachusetts Gaming Commission Interim Chair Jordan Maynard. “This group of stakeholders – regulators, industry, healthcare professionals, and academics – coming together is how we can address the issues impacting our residents. By committing to what works, and putting funding behind research and programs that have a real impact, we can help those in need and continue pushing the national conversation forward.”
Sessions focused on a range of gambling research, including developing player support tools such as Voluntary Self-Exclusion; how sports betting unintentionally impacts youth, college students, and families; and an evaluation of the GameSense program, which Massachusetts utilizes to support casino, sports wagering, and horse racing patrons. Programs also touched on insights from individuals in the recovery community and discussions on a path forward for gambling research and responsible gaming initiatives.
“The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is committed to researching the impacts gambling has on the state and region to inform policy making,” said the Commission’s Director of Research and Responsible Gaming Mark Vander Linden. “Our goal is to make this research available to stakeholders and policy makers across the country so we can learn together and help provide the most impactful services and programs for those who choose to gamble and their loved ones.”
The conference closed with a note that the regular exchange of ideas is needed to continue momentum and bring about tangible programs that can be replicated across the country. The Commission will continue to look for opportunities to highlight and mobilize research.
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MGC Recognizes March 2024 as Problem Gambling Awareness Month |
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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is proud to recognize March 2024 as Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM). The national outreach campaign was established more than 20 years ago by the National Council on Problem Gambling and was designed to educate the public on problem gambling and the resources available to address it.
The theme of this year’s PGAM is “Every Story Matters,” a reminder of the significance of every narrative surrounding problem gambling.
“Together, let’s amplify awareness, break down stigmas and emphasize that when it comes to problem gambling, Every Story Matters,” wrote the National Council on Problem Gambling on its website.
PGAM aims to generate awareness about the risks of gambling and urges action toward hope and recovery for those in need.
One way to generate awareness is through the creation of research that highlights the course and impact of problem gambling. The MGC has established the nation’s most comprehensive gambling research agenda and strives to mobilize it to reduce gambling harm. In the past decade, the MGC has released more than 75 research reports on topics ranging from the epidemiology of problem gambling and health, social and economic impacts across Massachusetts, and reducing harm through safer gambling strategies, practices and policies have been released by the MGC.
“Findings from the Commission’s research agenda have been instrumental in the development and deployment of effective responsible gaming resources,” said Mark Vander Linden, the MGC Director of Research and Responsible Gaming. “Our research efforts have allowed us to mobilize data to advance a variety of responsible gaming tools and strategies as we aim to further implement policies and practices focused on prevention and mitigation of problem gambling.”
In August 2023, the Commission published a report by Dr. Richard Wood, Dr. Michael Wohl, and Dr. Nassim Tabri called Positive Play: Measuring Responsible Gaming in Massachusetts 2022, which identified the extent of positive play among Massachusetts players, defined specific areas where positive play could be further supported, and identified the extent of positive play among different player segments. This information has proven crucial in the development of tailored information and resources for every gambler type.
This March also marks the one-year anniversary of mobile sports wagering in the Commonwealth. With it came a broadening of focus for the Commission’s research agenda and associated policy, strategy and practice supports. In anticipation of last year’s sports wagering launch in Massachusetts, the MGC announced the creation of a Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) specifically for sports wagering in an effort to aid patrons in controlling their gambling.
As always, the Commission is proud to continue partnering with the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health to operate the GameSense program. GameSense is the MGC’s statewide responsible gaming program and helps further our goal to reduce gambling harms. GameSense Advisors are available 24/7 at each Massachusetts casino, online or over the phone. Advisors are available to educate gaming patrons and employees on tips to keep play safe, support player health, enroll in the Voluntary Self-Exclusion program, and access community-based support resources.
“The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is proud to again recognize and promote Problem Gambling Awareness Month in the Commonwealth,” said then-MGC Chair Cathy Judd-Stein. “Advancing safe play and reducing the risks of problem gambling are paramount to the mission of the MGC, while our work to further programs and develop new initiatives centered on risk mitigation is truly a Commission-wide effort that includes everyone.”
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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported today that the month of April 2024 at Plainridge Park Casino (PPC), MGM Springfield (MGM) and Encore Boston Harbor (EBH) generated approximately $97.5 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).
Additionally, approximately $49.12 million in taxable sports wagering revenue (TSWR) was generated across the eight mobile/online sports wagering licensees and the three in-person licensees for the month of April.
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.
To date, the Commonwealth has collected approximately $1.737 billion in total taxes and assessments from the casino operations of PPC, MGM and Encore since the respective openings of each gaming facility.
View comprehensive revenue reports for each gaming licensee here. MGC issues monthly revenue reports on the 15th of each month or next business day.
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.
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 operators are taxed on 20% of TWSR. Betr and WynnBet had been licensed operators in the Commonwealth from February 2023 through early 2024, but neither renewed its license following the one-year temporary license period.
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 $137.69 million in total taxes and assessments from the sports wagering operations of licensed operators 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.
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Assessment of Job Quality at Massachusetts Casinos, 2022 |
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The MGC established the nation’s most comprehensive research program to study, assess, and prepare for the social and economic impacts of casino gambling. The MGC is committed to an open and transparent research program, ensuring easy and convenient access to its findings, analysis, and data.
One of the Commission's most recent research highlight is Assessment of Job Quality at Massachusetts Casinos, 2022, the economic impact study was conducted by the UMass Donahue Institute’s Economic & Public Policy Research Group of Thomas Peake, Rebecca Loveland, Kazmiera Breest, Ellen Aron, Rye McKenzie, Barbara Talagan, and Mark Melnik.
The purpose of this report was to examine workforce conditions at the Commonwealth’s three casinos, analyze the extent to which Massachusetts casino jobs are benefiting the casino workforce, and assess the quality of casino jobs. Overall, casino operators in Massachusetts are committed to their goals of recruiting and hiring a diverse workforce. Casino jobs offer flexibility in scheduling, low barriers to entry, and career advancement for women and minority workers. Casino workers are well compensated in comparison to other jobs in the accommodation and food services industry and have far lower rates of turnover. The analysis suggests that hiring across job title hierarchy is intentionally geared toward gender equity, though equity across this hierarchy for people of color has yet to be achieved.
Researchers from the UMDI team first examined conditions of the regional workforce in and around Massachusetts, as well as within the Accommodations and Food Services sector, to provide context for their findings.
They then analyzed payroll data from each casino from January 2022 through December 2022 to assess patterns in hiring, compensation, mobility, and turnover. Using this data, they described characteristics and composition of the industry’s workforce.
The final section of the report analyzed the quality of casino jobs, both across the industry and at individual casinos, by determining the extent to which they adhered to the principles of good jobs defined by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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GameSense in Focus: Insights from an Evaluation in Massachusetts Casinos |
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The MGC established the nation’s most comprehensive research program to study, assess, and prepare for the social and economic impacts of casino gambling. The MGC is committed to an open and transparent research program, ensuring easy and convenient access to its findings, analysis, and data.
Another of the Commission's most recent research highlight is GameSense in Focus: Insights from an Evaluation in Massachusetts Casinos, the responsible gaming program evaluation was prepared by Michael J. A. Wohl, Gray E. Gaudett, Christopher G. Davis, & Nassim Tabri.
The evaluation of the GameSense program was intended to provide the MGC with an understanding of the extent to which the program in Massachusetts is contributing to the overall goal of creating an effective, sustainable, measurable, socially responsible, and accountable approach to gambling, through assessing awareness, perceptions, and engagement with GameSense.
Findings show a high level of GameSense awareness among regular patrons and casino employees, and that patrons benefit from interacting with GameSense Advisors. Insights from the survey and focus groups with GameSense Advisors emphasize the dynamic nature of player-GameSense Advisors interactions and the need for adaptability in navigating the evolving gambling landscape. Further efforts are needed to increase understanding of the program’s comprehensive purpose and target audience.
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Gambling and Problem Gambling in Massachusetts: Results of a Follow-up Population Survey |
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The MGC established the nation’s most comprehensive research program to study, assess, and prepare for the social and economic impacts of casino gambling. The MGC is committed to an open and transparent research program, ensuring easy and convenient access to its findings, analysis, and data.
Another of the Commission's most recent research highlight is Gambling and Problem Gambling in Massachusetts: Results of a Follow-up Population Survey, the general population survey was conducted by the SEIGMA Research Team of Dr. Rachel A. Volberg, Robert J. Williams, Martha Zorn, & Valerie Evans.
The main purpose of the report was to determine whether and how gambling attitudes, gambling behavior, and problem gambling prevalence changed in Massachusetts following the introduction of casinos. Results from the survey are directly comparable to a 2013-14 baseline survey. In addition to these overall assessments, the report addresses the question of whether the demographic and behavioral patterns of gambling and problem gambling prevalence changed in Massachusetts between 2013 and 2021.
The research team obtained a probability sample of all Massachusetts households and allowed survey respondents aged 18 and over to complete the survey online, on paper, or by telephone. The sample included targets for adults identifying as Asian, Hispanic, Black, and adults aged 18-29, groups who are less likely to participate in surveys than other groups in the population. The survey was conducted from September 2021 through April 2022, had a weighted response rate of 27.5% and achieved a final sample size of 6,293 respondents.
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Interested in a career in the gaming industry? Explore openings at the MGC.
In addition to gaming jobs with the Commission, opportunities in many different fields are available with our licensees, including hospitality, culinary, security, retail, information technology, and facilities management.
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MGC Offers Convenient Ways for the Public to
Stay Connected and Informed
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In keeping with the latest state guidance about the open meeting law request and public health considerations, the Commission continues to conduct public meetings utilizing remote collaboration technology.
As always, we will maintain a robust and comprehensive meeting archive. If you are unable to join our meetings in real-time, a timely and complete archive will be available for your review.
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