In 2014, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission awarded Encore - part of the Wynn Resorts empire - a coveted resort casino license for an initial 15-year period. But more important, Encore has to play the long game. In this tight labor market, good luck finding replacement workers. If a strike happens, Encore has more to lose than gain. Unions and management are set to return to the negotiating table on Wednesday. Perhaps it was pandemic economics that led to a below-market deal, but that shouldn’t be the case today.Īccording to the American Gaming Association, the five-star resort casino has “continued its emergence as one of the most lucrative commercial casino-resorts in North America.” Here are Encore Boston’s eye-popping numbers: In 2022, the casino generated $729.7 million in total gaming revenue, or a 15 percent increase from the prior year, which made it the third-highest grossing commercial casino outside of Nevada. Cocktail servers who also rely on tips are paid about $8 an hour, or about $6 less an hour, the union says. On average, that’s about $2 less an hour than unionized workers at other hotels. How much? Encore housekeepers, according to the union, earn about $25 an hour.
