The state of Massachusetts may be small in size, but it’s large in population and entertainment. Nearly 7 million people are living in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, making it the most populous state in the New England region of the northeastern United States.
At the end of 2011, Massachusetts passed a Gaming Act to introduce casino gambling into the state. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is responsible for licensing and regulating commercial operations under the state jurisdiction. Currently, there are three fully functioning brick and mortar casinos in Massachusetts, offering the most popular and played gambling games, along with a multitude of different enjoyable activities, such as shopping, live entertainment, and top-quality dining.
- Encore Boston Harbor
- MGM Springfield
- Plainridge Park Casino
In the following article, we will have a look at these luxurious gambling facilities, paying special attention to the offered services, games and conveniences. Casinos in MA are certainly not just about gambling, and visitors of these magnificent gambling destinations will most certainly go home satisfied. If you still haven’t planned the exact route of your next trip to Massachusetts, then check out the map of massachusetts casinos below.
Traditional Massachusetts Casinos
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It’s important to mention that under the Expanded Gaming Act, as many as three casino resorts and one slot parlor can be opened in the state of Massachusetts. A slot parlor opened at Plainridge Park Casino in 2015, and two casino resorts, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor opened in 2018 and 2019, respectively. One more casino license may be issued for the southeastern part of the state, but the process has been delayed for now.
The Plainridge Park Casino is located in Plainville, and it is owned by the real estate investment trust Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. The MGM Springfield hotel and casino complex is located in the heart of Metro Center, Springfield, covering three blocks that are historically and culturally influential to the town. The Encore Boston Harbor is situated just north of Boston, in Everett, Massachusetts. Each of these three full-service casinos Massachusetts offer an extensive list of slots and table games, and the Plainridge Park Casino offers live harness racing as well.
It will be really hard to find a gambler who won’t be pleased with the variety of services on offer at those three fabulous gambling destinations. Tables for blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, Pai Gow, three card poker, four card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em and Let it Ride are available, as well as hundreds of different slots. And let’s not forget about the most popular player vs player card game in the world. There are more than 100 poker tables in Massachusetts and include NL and PL Texas Hold ’em, PL Omaha, Hi-Lo Omaha, 7 Card Stud and more.
An interesting fact about the casinos in Massachusetts is that the gaming regulations in the state require a minimum payback of 80% on all gaming machines. The payback percentages for slot machines at all casinos in MA are released as a matter of public record, so you can rest assured that the games are completely fair and safe to play.
Racinos in Massachusetts
The term racino is very popular in the US. A racino is a combined race track and a casino. In some cases, the casino is limited to just slot machines, while other locations include different types of table casino games, such as blackjack or roulette. As we already mentioned, the Plainridge Park Casino presents both casino gambling and live harness racing. The horse racing track offers live events from April through November and includes an indoor simulcast theater. Horse betting enjoys good popularity in the US, and currently, there are around 100 different tracks hosting both thoroughbred and harness races located throughout the country.
Indian Casinos in Massachusetts
There are two federally recognized tribes in the state of Massachusetts – the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). For the past few years both have worked towards opening gaming facilities on tribal lands, under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Mashpee received approval for land to be taken into trust for a casino in 2015. A year later, the construction on the casino on land in Taunton started. The plan included two 12-story hotel towers, a water park hotel, a shopping center and many restaurants. The casino was expected to have at least 3000 slots, 150 table games and more than 40 poker tables. The project, however, was suspended at the end of 2016. In March 2020, the US Interior Department decided to remove the tribe’s reservation status, which effectively ended the casino project.
The Aquinnah tribe announced plans for a gaming facility in 2013, but the state quickly blocked the project. A legal fight began, and in 2018 the tribe prevailed and started moving ahead with the plans to build a casino at a new site on their reservation.
What Else Can You Do at State Casinos in MA
And if you think that gambling would be the only fun activity that you can partake in when you visit one of the three land-based casinos in Massachusetts, then think again. All of the state casinos offer an abundance of other activities and opportunities to have a great time for the entire family. In order to determine the overall quality of these gambling establishments, we’ll have a look at some of the non-gaming factors and activities on offer.
Casinos Location
As you can probably guess, all of these fabulous gambling destinations in Massachusetts attract not only local players, but many tourists as well. That is why it is imperative for their success to be positioned close to big airports, so the flow of tourists is steady and consistent.
The Encore Boston Harbor is located in a commercial-industrial area on the Mystic River, just about five miles from downtown Boston. The $2.5 billion resort and casino have 27 above-ground floors and tops out at 319 feet, making the view of those who stay in the highest hotel rooms truly breathtaking.
The MGM Springfield property stretches on 14 acres and three blocks within the heart of the historic city of Springfield. The 2-million-square-foot hotel and casino complex was built in an area that sustained significant damage by a tornado that struck the town in the middle of 2011.
The Plainridge Park Casino is located in Plainville, a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The tremendous gaming and racing facility features more than 180,000 square feet, with nearly a third of that dedicated to gaming.
Local & Casino Hotels
And of course, such amazing destinations shouldn’t be visited for just a day. Making your gambling trip into a vacation and staying at deluxe hotel rooms will undoubtedly enhance the satisfaction of your journey. And just like the five-star gaming available at the casinos, visitors can enjoy luxury hotel rooms where they can relax and take a break from the gambling sessions. The MGM Springfield and the Encore Boston Harbour offer the finest in luxury accommodations on their premises. At the same time, the Plainridge Park Casino has partnerships with multiple first-class hotels located near Plainville.
Dining and Events at Massachusetts Casinos
As we turn our attention to the non-gambling activities at the fabulous Massachusetts casino resorts, we can see that there’s plenty going on. Visitors can have a break from the casino tables and go shopping at well-curated retail stores or get pampered at tranquil spa facilities. The entertainment goes with music shows, concerts, comedy clubs, piano bars, ballroom dancing and regal cinemas. On top of that, the whole range of dining needs and tastes are serviced at many outstanding restaurants.
Conclusion
It’s time for us to wrap it up and give our final verdict about land-based casinos in Massachusetts. Even though for now, the number of gambling establishments in the state is not as huge as in other states, for example, in Michigan, the available services are excellent. From the plethora of possible gambling games to the superb live entertainment events, the five-star hotel rooms and top-drawer dining houses, visitors are guaranteed an unforgettable experience. So, the next time you sit down with the family to discuss where you should go on your next vacation, consider the superb casino resorts in Massachusetts. Trust us, and you won’t regret it!
Map of Casinos in Massachusetts
For your convenience, we have included a map of the state of Massachusetts, so that you know exactly where the remarkable casino resorts are located. It’s always helpful to visualize your vacation route so that you know what to expect along the trip. We have provided the list of casinos Massachusetts one more time, so you can pick one of them, make a booking and surprise your loved ones with the vacation you all deserve.
Complete list of Casinos in Massachusetts:
- Encore Boston Harbor
- MGM Springfield
- Plainridge Park Casino