Encore Boston Harbor Records Sharp September Revenue Drop Amid Labor Action
Quinn Simmons · Oct 24, 2026

Encore Boston Harbor Records Sharp September Revenue Drop Amid Labor Action

Encore Boston Harbor, owned by Wynn Resorts, posted gross gaming revenue of approximately $46.1 million for September 2026, a figure that represents the property's weakest monthly result in more than five years while an employee strike involving roughly 1,350 workers continued from its start date of September 4, and observers note that this performance marks a 22.1 percent decline from the same month one year earlier, placing the total below any reading recorded since February 2021.
Data from the period shows Massachusetts collected about $11.5 million in gaming taxes from the property compared with $14.8 million during the corresponding month in 2025, and the revenue shortfall occurred even though the casino maintained operations throughout the labor dispute centered on wages and benefits.
Details of the Monthly Performance
September figures placed Encore Boston Harbor below every monthly total reported after February 2021, and analysts tracking Massachusetts commercial gaming have pointed to the ongoing strike as the primary factor that reduced staffing levels and altered daily floor activity, while the property continued to accept wagers across its slots and table games.
Those who monitor state revenue streams observed that the 22.1 percent year-over-year drop translated directly into lower tax remittances, and the same data set indicated that the two other commercial casinos operating in Massachusetts maintained stable results during the identical reporting window, underscoring the localized nature of the decline at Encore Boston Harbor.
Strike Background and Operational Effects
The labor action that began on September 4 involves approximately 1,350 employees whose union has focused negotiations on wages and benefits, and management has kept the facility open by adjusting shift schedules and relying on remaining staff, although observers have documented reduced service capacity in certain sections of the gaming floor.
Because the strike remained active through the end of September, the monthly gross gaming revenue reflected cumulative daily impacts that compounded over the 30-day period, and reports indicate the same workforce situation carried forward into early October 2026 without an announced resolution, allowing continued measurement of any further effects on October collections once those numbers become available.

State regulators have continued to receive daily activity reports from the property, and those records show consistent operation of core gaming areas even as management addressed staffing gaps created by the walkout, while the other two commercial casinos in the state experienced no comparable disruptions during the same timeframe.
Tax Revenue Implications for Massachusetts
Gaming tax collections tied to Encore Boston Harbor fell to roughly $11.5 million for September 2026 from $14.8 million the prior year, and officials responsible for distributing those funds have noted that the shortfall aligns precisely with the reported gross gaming revenue contraction, creating a measurable gap in the monthly transfer to state accounts.
Because Massachusetts applies a fixed percentage rate to gross gaming revenue, the 22.1 percent decline in reported handle produced a proportional reduction in tax receipts, and the commission responsible for oversight has recorded the figures without adjustment for the labor situation, treating the month as a straightforward reporting cycle.
Comparison With Other State Properties
The two additional commercial casinos licensed in Massachusetts reported results that remained consistent with prior months, and this stability has allowed regulators to isolate the revenue movement at Encore Boston Harbor as a site-specific event rather than an industry-wide trend, while data compiled for the full state portfolio still reflects the single-property dip.
Those reviewing the broader Massachusetts gaming market have therefore separated the Encore Boston Harbor numbers from the statewide totals when discussing performance trends, and the contrast with the other two properties has highlighted how localized labor conditions can influence individual facility outcomes even when surrounding market conditions stay steady.
Conclusion
The September 2026 results establish that Encore Boston Harbor experienced its lowest gross gaming revenue since February 2021 during a period when roughly 1,350 employees were engaged in a strike that began on September 4, and the resulting $46.1 million total produced tax collections of approximately $11.5 million for Massachusetts, down from $14.8 million the year before, while the state's remaining commercial casinos posted stable figures throughout the same interval, and the labor action centered on wages and benefits has continued without resolution into October 2026.