- Massachusetts will launch its legal sports betting market at 10:00 a.m. today, January 21, 2023.
- Legal sports betting will initially be available via in-person option at the state’s three casinos – Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park.
- Online sports betting is expected to follow in March, likely before the start of March Madness.
Legal sports betting officially launches in Massachusetts today, January 31, 2023, less than two weeks before Super Bowl LVII and well ahead of March Madness.
Persons aged 21 or older can start placing legal wagers in the Old Bay State beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the state’s three casinos. Online sports betting is expected to follow in March.
Although no specific date has been announced, it is believed that the Commission is aiming to do so before March 14th, when the NCAA men’s basketball tournament begins.
What Sports Can be Wagered On in Massachusetts?
Last week, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved a sports betting catalog that outlined a list of sporting events that can be wagered on when they head to the different retail sports betting outlets in the state beginning Tuesday.
The list includes the four major Northern American professional sports leagues the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Betting on most collegiate sports events is also allowed, although state law prohibits non-tournament games involving Massachusetts teams.
Wagering on sports league Drafts will also be allowed as well as betting on subjective pro sports leagues awards like MVP, although there was some serious discussion before sports awards betting was authorized. Betting on entertainment awards shows like the Oscars were also greenlighted by the commissioners.
Some of the interesting competitions that can be bet on include bull riding/rodeo events by Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), American Ultimate Disc League events, and international and domestic events sanctioned by Floorball Federation (IFF) and other IFF member leagues.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission votes to allow legal betting on the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating contest. pic.twitter.com/8ik3iCwtqQ
— Bennett Conlin (@BennettConlin) January 24, 2023
The Commission voted to allow legal betting on competitive eating, meaning Massachusetts residents can place wagers on the Nathan’s Famous Hotdog Eating Contest.
However, sports like chess, cornhole, esports, and the Olympics are on hold as commissioners want more time to discuss those events and the integrity standards of their governing bodies. As for the Olympics, there were issues raised on Olympic events that feature judging.
What are the Types of Bets Allowed?
The Commission also approved these kinds of bets for all sports leagues: single-game bets, teaser bets, parlay bets, over/under bets, moneyline bets, pools, exchange wagering, in-game betting, in-play bets, proposition bets, straight bets, spread bets, pleasers, round robin, cash out, 3-way, spread/handicap, totals, player-game-team props, futures/outrights, yes/no, Win/Place/Each Way. For in-game wagers, next-occurrence bets are also allowed.
On the other hand, wagers on an outcome that depends on the performance of a collegiate athlete, fantasy contests, injuries, penalties, player discipline, or replay review are prohibited.
Bets are also not allowed on a collegiate sport or athletic event that involves one or more teams from Massachusetts unless the game or event is played in connection with a tournament involving four or more teams. Wagers on high school and youth sports events are not permitted, regardless of circumstance.
Sports wagers on events where the outcome is determined by an evaluation or assessment of a judge or a panel of judges are also not allowed. These include several events in the Summer and Winter Olympics.
The state also disallows sports betting on events sanctioned or overseen by Russian or Belarusian sports authorities, governing bodies, and leagues.
Where Can Retail Wagers be Placed in Massachusetts?
The state’s sports betting law provides up to five brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the state which will be located at the state’s three casinos and two licensed race tracks.
The Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MGM Casino in Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville will take their “first bets” at 10 a.m. Tuesday after a half-decade process of stops, starts, and debate over legalizing sports gambling in the state. https://t.co/wtHs8bd4x9
— Scott Souza (@Scott_Souza) January 30, 2023
Encore Boston Harbor was the first casino to acquire a Category 1 or retail sports betting license in the state and is the largest and newest casino in Massachusetts. The Everett casino’s WynnBET sportsbook has 10 betting windows and 115 betting kiosks, most of them open 24/7.
The inaugural bets will be placed at 10 a.m. at the WynnBEt Kiosk Room by 32 lucky guests chosen for the honor while guests including Celtics great Cedric Maxwell and Speaker Ronald Mariano will place bets at the sportsbook’s windows.
Plainridge Park will also open at 10:00 a.m. and hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. with former New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich as its guest. The casino will utilize a temporary sportsbook with 18 kiosks and five betting windows. A permanent Barstool Sportsbook & Restaurant will open at a later date and will have 20 kiosks and 6 betting windows.
Meanwhile, MGM Springfield will have Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque, Sen. Adam Gomez, Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno as guests. The program will start at 9:15 a.m. while betting will also begin at 10:00 a.m.
MGM Springfield boasts a 4,586 square foot “first-class sports betting lounge” with stadium seating, a 45-foot viewing wall, and an enclosed wagering counter and self-service betting kiosks.
Raynham Park and Suffolks Down, the state’s two Category 2 racetracks have said that they won’t be ready to join the statewide launch but are expected to go live soon.
Raynham Park has announced that it will partner with Caesars to build a 30,000-square-foot race and sportsbook with two restaurants, bars, and a private events space. It is touted to be one of the biggest race and sports books in the United States.
What About Online Sports Betting?
A total of 8 online sports betting licenses can be tethered to the five retail sportsbooks while the state can issue up to seven “untethered” online sports betting licenses. So, when mobile sports betting launches this coming March as planned, Massachusetts residents could have up to 15 different internet sports betting operators to choose from.
To date, a total of five mobile operators are coming to Massachusetts while being tethered to the retail sportsbooks. Barstool Sportsbook and Fanatics are tied up to Penn Entertainment-owned Plainridge Park while BetMGM is linked to MGM Springfield. On the other hand, Encore Boston Harbor has two online sports betting skins in Caesars Sportsbook and WynnBET.
The Commission also approved a total of six “untethered” Category 3 sports betting licenses during its Public Meeting no. 425 last January 18th. The approved operators who received a temporary (1-year approval ) are DraftKings, Bally’s, PointsBet, FanDuel, and betr. All of the companies, except betr, received unanimous 5-0 votes from the commissioners.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission found another six online sports betting operators suitable for a license today. The six were companies connected to:
–@DKSportsbook
–@FDSportsbook
–@PointsBetUSA
–@BallyBet
–@betr
–@betway https://t.co/O8U4He5qsD pic.twitter.com/5yGVx0DjM9— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) January 19, 2023
Among those approved, DraftKings stands out as it was founded in the Greater Boston area by Jason Robins, Matt Kalish, and Paul Liberman. The operator is a popular fixture in the Commonwealth and employs an estimated 1,200 employees in its Boston office and has signages at the TD Garden, Gillette Stadium, and Fenway Park. DraftKings is also the only sports betting license holder in bordering New Hampshire.
Raynham Park’s Category 2 sports betting license allows it to have two online sports betting skins. It previously negotiated with Bet365 but that deal fell through and they are still looking for a new partner. Meanwhile, the other licensed race track in the state, Suffolk Downs, is expected to team up with BetRivers although it has yet to file its license application to date.
