The Massachusetts Gaming Commission heard arguments for and against a 13-acre, $1.7 billion expansion of Encore Boston Harbor but took no formal action Tuesday.
Proponents of the expansion cite more high-paying jobs and additional tax revenue that would be generated, while opponents said Wynn Resorts Ltd. has not lived up to its commitments of new jobs since Encore first opened in June 2019, that traffic and the need for police services have increased and that taxes have gone up, not down since the property opened.
The East of Broadway development project — across the street from Encore Boston Harbor — is expected to include 20,000 square feet of restaurant space, a sports wagering facility, a dedicated poker room, a live entertainment venue and nightclub, a 2,200-space parking garage and a 400-foot elevated pedestrian bridge connecting the new facility with the existing casino.
