Encore Boston Harbor donates over USD 600 K raised during test nights

Encore Boston Harbor, the $2.6 billion Everett casino, raised $669,019 during its three test nights before opening day. The company plans to send the money to six local nonprofits: Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Bread of Life, Everett Community Schools, Malden YMCA, Mystic River Watershed Association and the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.

Each organization will get a check for $111,503.16, according to a news release reported by Mass Live. Encore held three test nights the week before its Sunday morning launch on June 23, an unusual time for a casino opening. Wynn Resorts, the parent company, set the date after working with public safety officials to mitigate its traffic impact.

Despite opening on Sunday morning, the casino is off to a good start. Encore took in more than $16 million in the last week of June, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s monthly report. The company said it will give a full report of its casino and resort revenue on a quarterly basis. Initial projections suggested the $2.6 billion Everett casino would make more than $800 million a year.

“Giving back to the communities in which we live and work is a large part of who we are as a company,” Encore President Robert DeSalvio said in a statement. “We are humbled that our friends and families came out in droves to support the opening of Encore Boston Harbor and helped us create an opportunity to make a meaningful impact with these worthy local organizations.”

The test night is like a dress rehearsal for the grand opening. Casinos typically hold a couple of test nights so regulators can determine whether the facility is ready to receive its permanent operating certificate. Wynn Resorts officials announced June 21, the day after the last test night, that the casino received its permanent operating certificate.