115 incidents were reported in the five months following the casino’s opening versus 22 crimes reported in the three months prior to its opening. Springfield police has also seen an uptick in crimes committed outside the walls of the casino. This is two times more criminal activity than the state’s other major gaming venue, Plainridge Park Casino experienced all year. Within the first four months of operation, police responded to 208 incidents inside the casino, including 16 larcenies and robberies, five assaults, and two sexual offenses resulting in over 120 arrests. While the casino has brought jobs and entertainment to the area, it’s also ushered in a new wave of crime. Situated on Main Street in the heart of downtown Springfield, the nearly $1 billion property spans across three city blocks and includes 125,000 square feet of gaming space, a five-story hotel, restaurants, shops, a movie theatre and more. In August 2018, Massachusetts opened its first full-service resort casino – the MGM Springfield. MGM Springfield Casino: A Magnet for Criminal Arrests?
