Mass. Gamblers Outspend Rhode Islanders At Twin River
PHOTO/Jacquelyn Gutc
Gamblers try their luck at slots at Twin River in Lincoln, R.I.
Massachusetts residents accounted for most of the visits to Twin River casino in 2012 and they outspent Rhode Islanders there, according to a new study.
According to the 2013 New England Casino Gaming Update by the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Bay Staters accounted for 51 percent of all visits to the Lincoln, R.I., casino last year and spent $271 million on gaming, other entertainment, and food and beverages. Meanwhile, 46 percent of visits were from Rhode Islanders who spent $241 million.
The findings expanded on an earlier report by the center which found that the number of visits to Twin River — a slots parlor that expanded to include table games this summer and has launched a major advertising campaign targeting Massachusetts residents — saw visits from Bay Staters rise by 261 percent from 2006 to 2012. Rhode Islanders' visits there increased by 2 percent during the same period. Massachusetts resident also increased visits to the Newport Grand slots parlor by 18 percent during those years, while visits from Rhode Islanders dropped 37 percent.
Total spending by Massachusetts residents at the two gaming locations rose from $182.2 million in 2006 to $295.3 million last year.
Overall, Massachusetts residents spent $853 million at New England's four casinos in Connecticut and Maine and the two slots parlors in Rhode Island last year, the report said.
Massachusetts residents spent $554.4 million at Connecticut's casinos in 2012, a decrease of 11.1 percent over 2011. Bay Staters made 5 million visits to the casinos accounting for 32 percent of Foxwoods visitors and 19 percent of Mohegan Sun visitors. They generated $76.5 million in tax revenue to Connecticut's government, according to the report.
Clyde W. Barrow, director of the policy center, called Twin River's dependency on Bay Staters a double-edged sword because the casino's growth comes at a time when Massachusetts officials are weighing approval of three casinos in the state and one slots parlor.
Central Massachusetts is receiving attention from two of the four developers hoping to build the state's lone slots parlor. After failing attempts to reach agreements with officials in Salisbury, Boxborough and Danvers, Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. announced last week that it's seeking to build a slots parlor in Leominster. Meanwhile, Mass Gaming & Entertainment, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, also announced plans to develop a facility in Millbury after talks with Worcester officials fell through last month. Meetings will be held in both Leominster and Millbury tonight where the companies are expected to give further details of their plans.
Barrow said the location of Massachusetts' gaming facilities will have a dramatic impact on gambling sites in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
"Where the commonwealth ultimately sites three casinos and the slot parlor will determine whether Massachusetts is able to reassert dominance over New England's gaming, entertainment and tourism sectors by stemming the flow of Massachusetts spending into Connecticut and Rhode Island and by capturing additional spending from northern New England, Canada, and other visitors who come to Massachusetts for business and for its many recognized tourist attractions," Barrow said.
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