The Encore Boston Harbor strike is over. After 63 days on the picket line, more than 1,300 workers at the Wynn Resorts-owned casino in Everett, Massachusetts, have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, ending one of the longest casino labor disputes in recent US history.
The walkout began on September 4, 2026, after contract talks with Wynn broke down in August. Workers represented by Teamsters Local 25 and UNITE HERE Local 26 returned after members voted to approve a five-and-a-half-year deal that labor leaders say met all three of their core goals.
For poker players in New England, the headline news is simple: the Encore poker room never closed. But the strike's financial impact on the property, and on Massachusetts gaming as a whole, was significant.
Who Went on Strike
The striking workers covered a broad range of non-gaming and support roles, including:
- Housekeeping staff
- Kitchen, restaurant and bar workers
- Slot attendants
- Warehouse employees
The unions accused management of having "refused to bargain in good faith for a new contract," and the dispute dragged on through the autumn. Encore stayed open for the entire strike, but with large parts of its hospitality operation running short-staffed.
The New Contract
Specific terms have not been released by either side, but the broad outline is clear:
- Length: five and a half years
- Pay: significant raises that meet what the unions call the "Boston standard"
- Benefits: health care preserved
- Security: new job security agreements
Seth Ogilvie, a representative for the unions, said the deal "secures significant raises that meet the Boston standard." Wynn Resorts spokesman Ryan Jelniker said the company was "pleased to have reached an agreement that works for our employees."
What Happened to the Poker Room?
This was the question many local players were asking. The answer: almost nothing changed at the tables.
Table games and poker dealers belong to different unions from the striking workers and kept working throughout the walkout. That meant Encore's 36-table poker room and its weekly tournament schedule ran as usual.
For players, the effects were mostly indirect. Food and beverage service and hotel operations were affected by staffing gaps, but the cards kept flying. That matters because Encore's room is one of the biggest in New England, drawing players from Boston, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and beyond.
The Financial Hit
Even with the casino open, the numbers tell a clear story. Encore reported $46.1 million in gaming revenue in September 2026, down 22 percent from September 2025. That was the property's lowest monthly total since February 2021, when it reported $41 million during the pandemic.
Encore is the largest of Massachusetts' three casinos, alongside MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park, so any downturn there has a noticeable impact on state gaming tax revenue. The strike coincided with the start of the busy autumn sports and entertainment season, which compounded the losses.
October figures, which covered most of the remainder of the strike, will show whether the decline continued or whether visitors adjusted.
A Pattern of Casino Strikes
Encore is the latest in a series of casino labor disputes:
- Virgin Hotels Las Vegas (2024): A 69-day strike ended with a five-year contract, after 57 employees were arrested on the picket line.
- Detroit (2023): Workers at the city's three casinos struck for more than a month before reaching deals.
- Caesars Southern Indiana (2025): More than 140 workers walked off for 13 days before securing a five-year contract.
- Rio Las Vegas (2025): Workers authorised a strike in November 2025.
At 63 days, the Encore walkout sits just behind Virgin Hotels in length among recent strikes. The common thread is that hospitality workers, who were among the hardest hit during pandemic closures, are pushing for raises that reflect the high cost of living in markets like Boston and Las Vegas.
Why This Matters for Poker
Live poker relies on more than dealers. Floor staff, food service, hotel rooms and cleanliness all shape whether players choose one room over another. A long strike can push recreational players toward competitors, and recreational players are the lifeblood of any healthy poker ecosystem.
In Encore's case, the separate dealer union proved crucial. Had poker dealers walked out too, the room would almost certainly have closed or cut its schedule dramatically, which would have pushed regulars toward rival rooms in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
There is also a wider lesson for players about the economics of live poker. Rake, staffing and casino revenue are deeply connected. As labor costs rise, poker rooms come under pressure to justify their floor space. Rooms that run efficiently, with strong tournament schedules and full games, are the ones most likely to stay open as costs climb.
What This Means for Players
New England players can return without disruption. With the strike over, food, beverage and hotel services should return to normal in the coming weeks.
Live play has real costs. Travel, food and rake add up quickly. Comparing these costs against online options is a smart part of bankroll management. Our article on online poker vs live poker breaks down the differences.
Massachusetts still has no regulated online poker. While neighbouring states have debated iGaming, Massachusetts players looking to play online often turn to offshore platforms. If you go that route, stick with established brands from our safe poker sites list, such as BetOnline, and read our guide to real money poker first.
Watch for promotions. Casinos often run promotions after disruptions to win back visitors. Keep an eye on Encore's tournament calendar and high hand promotions over the holiday season.
How Labor Disputes Shape Casino Choices
For regular players, the most useful thing to understand is how a property's staffing affects the overall experience even when the poker room itself is untouched. Long waits for food, slower drink service and reduced hotel availability all add friction to a session. Over a 63-day strike, some Boston-area players will have shifted part of their volume elsewhere, whether to other New England rooms or online. Encore's challenge now is to win that volume back, and the poker room's tournament calendar will be one of its best tools for doing so.
Looking Ahead
With a five-and-a-half-year deal in place, Encore can now focus on recovering lost revenue. For poker players, the room's busy schedule continues unchanged, and with the holiday season approaching, New England's biggest poker room should be back to full strength.