Encore Boston Harbor Reports Significant Gaming Revenue Decline During September Strike

Encore Boston Harbor, owned by Wynn Resorts, posted its lowest monthly gross gaming revenue in more than five years when September 2026 figures came in at approximately $46.1 million, a 22% drop from the same month the previous year, and observers note the ongoing strike by more than 1,300 workers played a central role in that outcome. The labor action, involving members of UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25, began on September 4 and continued through the reporting period, which led to measurable reductions in key performance metrics such as slot coin-in that fell more than 20% year-over-year.

State gaming regulators released the September numbers in late October 2026, and those reports show the casino generated roughly $11.5 million in tax revenue for Massachusetts compared with $14.8 million collected twelve months earlier. Analysts tracking the property point out that the strike affected daily operations across hotel, food service, and gaming floor areas, which in turn reduced overall visitor volume and spending patterns throughout the month.

Strike Details and Operational Disruptions

More than 1,300 employees walked off the job on September 4, 2026, and the work stoppage remained active for the remainder of the month, creating staffing challenges that forced management to adjust service levels in multiple departments. Union representatives from UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 coordinated the action, and data from the property indicate that both table games and slot areas experienced reduced activity as a direct result. Slot coin-in, a primary indicator of machine play volume, declined over 20%, while overall gross gaming revenue reached the lowest point recorded at the property since early 2021.

Monthly casino revenue reports for September 2026 confirm that the 22% drop at Encore Boston Harbor stood out against the steadier performance at the other locations, and those same reports place the property's revenue at the lowest level seen in over five years. The decline also translated directly into lower tax payments, with the $3.3 million reduction in collections reflecting the smaller gaming handle generated during the strike period.

Tax Revenue Impact on Massachusetts

Tax collections from Encore Boston Harbor fell to approximately $11.5 million in September 2026, down from $14.8 million the prior year, and state budget officials received those updated figures as part of the regular monthly reporting cycle released in October. The reduction represents a measurable shift in the contribution the property makes to state coffers, and analysts who review gaming tax data on a regular basis noted that the strike created an immediate and visible effect on that revenue stream.

Because the strike began early in the month and continued without interruption, every week of September reflected lower activity levels than the comparable weeks in 2025. Slot coin-in and table game drop both moved lower, which produced the overall gross gaming revenue of $46.1 million and the corresponding tax payment of $11.5 million. Those who monitor the industry point out that the other two casinos in Massachusetts did not experience similar labor disruptions, which allowed their revenue and tax contributions to remain consistent with prior periods.

Context Within Broader Industry Trends

Encore Boston Harbor has operated since 2018, and its revenue history shows steady growth in most months prior to the September 2026 strike. The 22% year-over-year decline therefore stands as an outlier in the property's performance record, and the timing coincides exactly with the start of the labor action on September 4. Data released in October 2026 allowed direct comparison with previous months and years, confirming that the figure of $46.1 million had not been seen at the property for more than five years.

Strike-related service adjustments affected multiple revenue centers, from hotel occupancy to food and beverage outlets, which in turn influenced how long guests stayed and how much they spent on gaming. Slot coin-in dropped more than 20%, and that single metric accounts for a substantial portion of the overall revenue shortfall. Meanwhile, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park continued to operate without comparable interruptions, producing results that remained within normal monthly ranges for each property.

Conclusion

The September 2026 performance at Encore Boston Harbor illustrates how a sustained labor action can affect gaming revenue, tax collections, and operational metrics in a concentrated period. With gross gaming revenue at $46.1 million, slot coin-in down over 20%, and tax payments reduced to $11.5 million, the month marked the lowest point in more than five years for the Wynn Resorts property. The contrast with stable results at MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park underscores the localized impact of the strike that began September 4 and involved more than 1,300 workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25. State figures released in October 2026 captured these outcomes clearly and provided the basis for ongoing review of the situation.