Wynn Resorts has come out as a vocal opponent of possible online gaming legalization in Massachusetts.
In recent months, lawmakers began considering the issue. The Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies talked about plans for online gambling expansion.
The state already has online sports betting. Thus, any expansion plans would come through online casino legalization. That would certainly include an online poker market.
In response, Wynn Resorts officials testified against legalization. The company owns Encore Boston Harbor, the largest brick-and-mortar casino in the Bay State.
Encore’s executive director of government relations Eileen McAnney said online gaming could create more gambling addiction and hurt brick-and-mortar casinos in the state.
“The rationale that Internet casino gambling will increase state revenues does not factor in the significant cannibalization of brick-and-mortar gaming taxes, lost hotel, restaurant, and entertainment tax revenues, lost tax revenues stemming from significant job losses, lost tax revenue from reductions in casino purchases from small businesses and suppliers, and the social costs related to increased problem gambling, bankruptcies, welfare, health care costs, homelessness, domestic violence and family separation, criminal justice impacts, and more,” McAnney said.
Industry Insiders Offer Different Opinions
McAnney noted that the casino contributes $15 million in slot and table game revenue to the state each month. She argued that could be jeopardized with the legalization of online gaming.
John Pappas, with iDEA Growth (iDevelopment and Economic Association), also recently spoke with lawmakers about the issue. The group is the leading trade association for online gaming in the U.S. Pappas said iGaming offered a chance to bring those using offshore gaming sites into a regulated environment that would benefit the state.
“Let’s be clear, iGaming is happening today in the commonwealth,” he said. “A recent report with one of our member companies, GeoComply, found that residents are actively gambling with illegal online platforms. According to the data, residents conduct more than 250K monthly searches for online casino and poker content, and that’s resulted in 1.2 million visits to illegal online casino sites..
“These casinos are aggressively advertising to consumers, who don’t even recognize that they’re engaging with an illegal gambling platform.”
A 2024 study released by iDEA is also at odds with Wynn’s assessment of casino cannibalization. The study found that iGaming typically adds to casino revenue.
Other Casino Owners May Possibly Back a Bill
Along with Encore, Massachusetts is also home to MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino, which is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment.
MGM and Penn seem likely to support legalization in the Bay State as both have significant online gaming operations around the country.
Online sports betting went live in 2023 and both already operate mobile sportsbooks in the state. Wynn exited the online gaming industry in most states in 2023, but still offers mobile sports betting in Nevada.
A total of seven states now offer regulated online casino gaming, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and West Virginia. Nevada also allows for online poker. Massachusetts legislators began considering legalization in January.