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Springfield has taken MGM Resorts International to court over alleged failures at MGM Springfield, while a separate fight over a potential sale of the casino business remains unresolved.
The city says MGM falls well below employment and gaming floor commitments contained in a 2013 host community agreement. MGM argues that Springfield officials are using the dispute to delay approval of a proposed sale.
Good to Know
- MGM Springfield currently has about 1,600 slot and video gaming machines and 50 table games.
- The host agreement called for more than 2,800 machines, at least 75 table games and 3,000 employees.
- Springfield has approval rights over any transfer of the casino business.
Casino Sale Sits at Center of MGM Dispute
MGM says it identified a prospective buyer in early 2024 and asked Springfield to approve a transfer of the casino operations. The company has not identified the buyer publicly.
The underlying real estate has already been sold, leaving MGM with the gaming operation. Under the host community agreement, Springfield retains a role in approving a transfer of that business.
MGM said Springfield officials have not acted in good faith and accused the city of filing “frivolous litigation to continue to delay its consideration of MGM’s request to approve the proposed sale of its interest in MGM Springfield to a well-qualified casino operator.”
Springfield gives a different account. Mayor Domenic Sarno says nearly two years of negotiations failed to resolve alleged violations covering staffing, gaming capacity and redevelopment commitments.
The city says MGM Springfield employs about 1,500 people, including roughly 1,000 full time workers. Earlier commitments called for 3,000 employees, including 2,200 full time positions.
Gaming capacity has also fallen below the figures in the agreement. MGM Springfield now offers around 1,600 slot and video gaming machines and 50 table games, compared with commitments for 2,800 to 3,000 machines and at least 75 tables.
101 State Street Adds Another Dispute
Springfield also cites the condition of 101 State Street, a property beside the casino.
The original agreement called for 85,000 square feet of refurbished Class A office space at the site. MGM later agreed to a city request to consider turning the building into a hotel, according to the company.
Sarno has criticized long running scaffolding and barriers around the property and says MGM has not fulfilled the redevelopment requirement.
The legal fight follows arbitration between the two sides. MGM said Springfield filed the lawsuit just before a deadline in that process.
MGM Springfield opened in 2018 as the first full scale resort casino in Massachusetts. Encore Boston Harbor followed in Everett in 2019.
MGM has also been selling other regional casino assets. The company sold Northfield Park Racino operations in Ohio to Clairvest Group earlier in 2026.
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