MGM Springfield suffered a setback in April, with revenue dropping 15 percent from March. That's according to the latest numbers from Massachusetts casino regulators.
MGM officials in recent months have acknowledged they were disappointed with early returns from the Springfield casino, which opened last August. They stressed that the Northeast, with its harsh winters, was a seasonally dependent market.
The numbers spiked in March, rivaling the casino's revenue in September, its first full month of operation. But they fell again in April, by roughly $4 million, to $21.8 million.
One reason for the April decline: table games, which had their worst month yet.
MGM's gambling revenue is taxed at 25 pecent by the state, adding up to $5.5 million in March. Since opening in late August, the casino's taxes have totaled $47.5 million.
In a statement, MGM Springfield President Mike Mathis said he was pleased with its "overall performance," and said the casino has increased its bus service to try to attract customers from New York and Boston.
Winning the loyalty of those eastern Massachusetts gamblers will be key, as a resort casino in Everett is scheduled to open in early summer.
Disclosure: MGM has purchased underwriting from New England Public Radio publicizing the company's non-gambling activities. The NEPR newsroom operates independently of the station's development department, and editorial decisions are made without regard to any funding relationships.
