By Josh Resnek
Encore Boston Harbor Casino and Hotel took in $4 million more in March than it did in February, according to the monthly earnings report issued by the MGC last week.
Total revenue figures for gaming at Encore exceeded $66 million in March, up from $62 million in February, according to a report issued by the MGC late last week.
A $4 million rise in revenues from slots and gaming tables represents a hefty month of revenue gains for the gaming giant.
With revenues coming close to annualizing $800 million just from the casino, Encore is one of the largest generators of taxes and revenues in the state of Massachusetts.
Not included in the monthly gaming figures are the hotel income figures including occupancy rates and room rental fees collected by the city.
The casino has been registering higher occupancy rates this spring than ever before.
This week was also to mark the first time the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has held a host city public meeting managed and run by the MGC as regulators try to get a sense of public comments about the tremendous expansion moves now being planned by Wynn Resorts on lower Broadway.
This includes the recent $25 million purchase of the 45-acre former oil generating site across from the casino.
Speculation is strong that the New England Revolution will be building a soccer stadium on that site.
In addition, Encore has floated plans for a 2500 seat entertainment auditorium venue as well as a parking lot and a pedestrian bridge to allow patrons to walk over Broadway instead of having to cross the street. All these plans have generated a great deal of interest among Everett residents and with local government leaders.
The public meeting was held to measure the response and to weight the impact of the dramatic expansion of the casino’s footprint on lower Broadway.