Wynn Resorts Gets Blessing from MGC to Expand Its Gaming Operations

By Matt Speakman,
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Matt Speakman Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

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Last updated: February 18, 2023

Wynn Resorts has been approved by the MGC (Massachusetts Gaming Commission) to expand operations off of the original property of Encore Boston Harbor properties. Casino sports betting is now operational and legal in the Commonwealth. Encore Boston Harbor plans to extend its resort’s footprint to the east across Broadway. The casino, which is located in Everett on the site of a former chemical manufacturing facility, intends to build a standalone poker room and sportsbook inside a constructed facility that is newly built.

The casino’s “Memoire” nightclub will also be moved as a result of the expansion. The existing resort will be connected to the new gaming space via a pedestrian bridge across Broadway. Gaming regulators in the state have questioned whether the resort is permitted to expand off of its original project site under the terms of Everett’s local referendum in 2013 that authorized the casino.

A decade ago, local voters declared they were in favor of letting Wynn Resorts construct an integrated casino in the then Monsanto Chemical Site. Recently, the 5-person MGC voted 4 against 1 in support of allowing Wynn Resort to expand Encore Boston Harbor operations across the street. They concurred that the referendum in 2013 should be interpreted as that commercial gaming is permitted in the general vicinity of the present casino.

The lone dissenter was Commissioner Eileen O’Brien. She stated that she supports expansion projects from the three casinos in the state, but she questioned whether the wishes of the Everett people were being honored.

Greater Extension

Officials from Wynn said the casino can start finalizing its expansion plans with the MGC’s blessing. Encore Boston Harbor is considering adding two new hotel towers in addition to the standalone gaming complex. Currently, Encore Boston Harbor offers 671 guest rooms. Wynn Resorts said in its recently released full-year earnings report that Encore Boston had a 91.4% occupancy rate in the previous year.

Since hotel rooms are frequently unavailable, Encore Boston proposed in December building two new towers across Broadway to accommodate around 800 additional hotel rooms. This part of the expansion project does not need the approval of the MGC because gambling would not be offered in the hotels, but it still needs consent from the local governments.

As part of the expansion project, Encore has also proposed a 200-seat comedy club, an indoor theater that can accommodate about 1,000 audiences, and a roof day club. During the warmer months, the roof day club would be open. Wynn’s Massachusetts expansion may run up to 1.8 million additional square feet in total.

Launch of an Online Sportsbook

On January 31, sports betting started at the three casinos in Massachusetts. The MGC is completing its online licenses in anticipation of soon permitting wagers to be placed online. During the recent MGC meeting in Boston, commissioners mentioned that they are aiming for March 10 for online sportsbooks.

Eleven sportsbooks have been approved by the MGC to run online in the commonwealth. These sportsbooks are BetMGM, WynnBet, Caesars, Fanatics, Barstool, FanDuel, DraftKings, Bally’s, Betway, Betr, and PointsBet.