The President of Encore Boston Harbor, Robert DeSalvio, said the initial reaction to the $2.6 billion property has been “extremely positive.” Mr. DeSalvio spoke with WCVB Channel 5 Boston’s Ed Harding and Janet Wu earlier today.
Encore Boston Harbor opened doors in the Greater Boston area on June 23, 2019. The luxury hotel and casino resort generated gaming revenue of nearly $17 million during its first week of operation, practically outpacing Massachusetts’ other casinos – the MGM Springfield integrated resort and the slots-only parlor Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville.
Mr. DeSalvio said today that Encore has enjoyed an “extremely positive” initial reaction during its first month of operation. Encore’s President is an industry veteran with more than four decades of experience in the industry. He had previously served as President of Sands Bethlehem in Pennsylvania.
Revenue Projections
According to the June revenue figures released by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Encore generated $16.8 million in revenue from slot machines and table games in its first week. The property’s 210,000-square-foot casino floor features 3,100 slot machines and 143 table games. A second level of the gaming facility features an 88-poker room as well as VIP and private gaming areas.
Asked to comment on the first revenue figures released, Mr. DeSalvio said that it is normal for Encore to generate higher revenue than Massachusetts’ other gaming facilities and that it is normal expectations to be higher. The official further noted that with the resort being located in Eastern Massachusetts, it is exposed to a wider population.
Of Encore’s revenue during its first full month of operation, Mr. DeSalvio said that while he expects solid first-month numbers, “in the history of our business, most of these properties take 18 to 24 months before they actually start to see their full potential.” The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is set to release the state’s July gambling revenue numbers in mid-August.
The integrated resort, the latest in the portfolio of Las Vegas gaming and hospitality giant Wynn Resorts, welcomed three main groups of customers, Mr. DeSalvio revealed. In the first place, Encore enjoyed great popularity among a strong local market.
The property also welcomed tourists from around the United States in its first weeks of operation. And it saw a lot of international tourism, its President revealed. Mr. DeSalvio also pointed out that they expect most of Encore’s high rollers to come from overseas and from some parts of the United States.
The Blackjack Controversy
Encore faced a class-action lawsuit days after its grand opening. A. Richard Schuster from New York accused the casino of cheating its patrons. Schuster played blackjack at the property. He said that he should have been paid at 3-2 odds, but he was eventually paid at 6-5.
The gambler further pointed out that the 6-5 payout rule deployed by the casino was coupled with additional rules that increased significantly the house’s edge against the player.
Following the accusations, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s team of investigators conducted a review to determine whether Wynn was violating the terms of its casino license. The regulator said that Encore’s gaming operations were compliant with state gaming law. Massachusetts casinos are allowed to feature 6-5 blackjack tables, but only if they fulfill certain other requirements to ensure that the playing field between their patrons and the house is leveled.
Mr. DeSalvio said today that the recent lawsuit was a nuisance and “completely false.” Despite the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ruling that Encore was compliant with rules, Schuster and his legal team will pursue the claims in court.
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