When executives at Penn National Gaming bet on the Massachusetts casino market, they were hoping to draw big crowds by being the first to open.
So far, that bet appears to be paying off — for the local economy, at least.
The Plainridge Park Casino, which debuted in Plainville in late June with 1,250 slot machines, has spent $2.4 million on outside vendors for operating expenses such as food and beverage purchases since June 1, casino general manager Lance George said. That translates to about $1.5 million for businesses in this state. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday released a breakdown for where that money is being spent. A third of it, or about $506,000, went to businesses in Norfolk County, while the casino spent $362,000 with Plymouth County firms and nearly $274,000 in Bristol County. (Plainville is in Norfolk County.) The casino employed 533 full- and part-time workers as of July 23, the commission said, with payroll spending on an annualized rate of $14 million. George said the casino now has roughly 600 full- and part-time workers. Continue reading it below Graphic: Where the Plainridge Park Casino money goesThat compares to 100 when Plainridge was just a horse track, with two food outlets. Today it has seven places to eat.
Plainridge is required by the state to set aside 40 percent of its gross gambling revenue for local aid. With $24.3 million in slot machine revenue collected from June 24 through July 31, nearly $10 million has gone to aid for cities and towns.
Based on the first month, Plainridge is on track to collect nearly $220 million in slot machine revenue for a full year. George said this would exceed the gaming commission’s projection but fall short of Penn National’s forecast of $248 million. “Out of the gates, it’s pretty tough to tell where we’re going to end up,” George said. “By everybody’s assessment, it’s been a very successful opening.”
Two larger resort-style casinos are scheduled to open in Springfield and in Everett in 2018.
Massachusetts officials worry that casinos could take a big bite out of state lottery revenue, which provides a steady stream of financial aid to cities and towns. But commission chairman Steve Crosby said the portion of casino revenues allocated for local aid should more than offset any losses in local aid by the lottery.
“There’s a high degree of likelihood that no matter how much lottery money is diverted, the impact on local aid will be a net positive,” Crosby said.
The vendors that benefited include companies such as West Springfield-based Mansfield Paper Co., a supplier of napkins and other paper goods.
“It helps keep smaller companies open,” Suzanne Charette, an account executive at the company, said of the new casino.
MaryAnn Campisano, owner of m.a.c. graphics in Mansfield, said her work with Plainridge — which included the invitations for the June opening — has had a big impact on her one-person marketing agency. “They’re really a great organization to work with,” she said.
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