Encore Boston Harbor Faces Revenue Decline as Strike Enters Second Month
Written by Drew Ludwig · Oct 23, 2026
Encore Boston Harbor Faces Revenue Decline as Strike Enters Second Month
Data from the September 2026 monthly casino revenue reports shows Encore Boston Harbor recorded gross gaming revenue of $46.1 million, a 22 percent drop compared with the same month in 2025, and this figure marks the lowest level reported by the property in more than five years while the strike by over 1,300 union workers continued throughout the period.
Strike Timeline and Direct Effects
The labor action began on September 4 and involved workers across multiple departments at the Everett property, which led to reduced operations in several areas and produced the corresponding drop in gaming taxes paid to the state at the 25 percent rate, resulting in $11.5 million remitted for the month.
Observers note that this tax payment also reached its lowest point since early 2021 during the pandemic period, and the figures reveal how the localized impact stayed concentrated at Encore Boston Harbor while other Massachusetts casinos maintained steadier revenue patterns during the same reporting window.
Revenue Figures in Context
September 2026 numbers place Encore Boston Harbor well below its typical monthly performance, and the 22 percent year-over-year decline aligns directly with the start of the strike, which disrupted staffing levels and customer services across table games, slots, and hospitality functions.
Those who reviewed the monthly casino revenue reports point out that the property had not posted a monthly total this low since before the full reopening after pandemic restrictions, and the data indicates the strike created an immediate and measurable effect on both gross gaming revenue and the taxes collected from those activities.
Additional details from the same reports show that the drop occurred even though the casino remained open every day, yet the absence of more than 1,300 workers limited capacity in key revenue-generating sections and produced the lowest tax contribution recorded in over five years.
Tax Payments and State Revenue
The 25 percent tax rate applied to the $46.1 million gross gaming revenue generated $11.5 million for state coffers, and this amount represents the smallest transfer since the pandemic lows of early 2021 when many properties operated under heavy restrictions.
Figures from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission reports confirm the payment came solely from Encore Boston Harbor operations, and the localized nature of the decline becomes clear when compared with steadier results posted by other licensed casinos in the state during September 2026.
Comparison With Other State Casinos
While Encore Boston Harbor experienced the sharp decline, the remaining casinos in Massachusetts reported revenue totals that stayed within normal seasonal ranges, and this contrast highlights how the strike affected only one property rather than the broader market.
Those who examined the full set of monthly casino revenue reports note that the other facilities maintained consistent staffing and customer traffic, which allowed them to avoid the same level of disruption seen at the Everett location during the same September period.
Developments Into October 2026
As October 2026 began, the strike remained active with no immediate resolution announced, and the ongoing labor action continued to limit full operations at Encore Boston Harbor while the property worked through the second month of reduced staffing.
Data collected early in October shows similar patterns of constrained capacity, and observers tracking the situation point to the same union workforce remaining off site as the primary factor keeping revenue and tax figures below historical averages for the property.
Broader Market Observations
Market analysts reviewing the September 2026 results emphasize that the 22 percent drop stayed isolated to Encore Boston Harbor, and the steadier performance at competing casinos demonstrates that external economic factors did not drive the decline across the entire Massachusetts gaming sector.
The monthly casino revenue reports further confirm that total statewide gaming taxes held relatively stable despite the shortfall from this single property, and the localized impact of the strike becomes even clearer when the figures are viewed side by side with prior months.
Conclusion
The September 2026 data establishes a clear connection between the start of the strike on September 4 and the lowest revenue and tax figures recorded at Encore Boston Harbor in more than five years, while other state casinos avoided similar disruptions during the same period. As October 2026 progressed, the continuing labor action kept the property operating below normal capacity, and the monthly casino revenue reports continue to serve as the primary source for tracking any changes in these metrics.