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Massachusetts Sports Betting

Ted Dahlstrom Fri 11/22 7:26am PT

Sports betting is finally legal in Massachusetts! After years of trying, legislative leaders finally hammered out a compromise that was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker on August 10, 2022. Retail sports betting launched on January 31, 2023, and mobile betting came soon after on March 10, 2023.

With neighboring states New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, along with close-by Pennsylvania and New Jersey, all having some form of legalized sports betting, the topic of legalization has become a more important one lately. Mobile sports betting arrived in Massachusetts on March 10, 2023, making MA the final northeastern commonwealth/state not named Vermont to legalize the activity.

Read on for more information about how we got here, when exactly sports betting launched in MA, what all this means for bettors in the state, which sportsbooks (besides DraftKings) will likely come to the state, what impact this will have on the existing competition from neighboring states, and answers to your frequently asked questions. 

You can also check out our ESPN BET promo code review to get offer details and sign-up instructions for the newest sportsbook in Massachusetts.

Update: On February 16, 2024, Betr Sportsbook and WynnBET both ceased operations in Massachusetts. WynnBET will still have a retail sportsbook at the Wynn Encore Boston Harbor casino, but the app is now turned off in the state.

State of Massachusetts

Massachusetts GameSense

GameSense is a responsible gaming organization that can help people in Massachusetts with problem gambling. If you or someone you know needs assistance, you or they can LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 to speak with an advisor over the phone.

Massachusetts Sportsbook Offers

Sports Teams in Massachusetts

People in Massachusetts are obsessed with sports, and the state’s professional sports teams are extremely popular. The Pats, Celts, Sox, and B’s are ingrained into the fabric of the Commonwealth, with each generation growing up fans of all four teams. Sports are a much bigger part of life there than other parts of the country. Let’s go over the sports teams and their team and/or league sportsbook partnerships:

New England Patriots

Like everywhere else, the NFL is king in MA, with the Patriots consistently being ranked in polls as the state’s most popular sports team. The Patriots have a partnership with hometown favorite DraftKings. The NFL, meanwhile, has several official sportsbook partners: BetMGM, Betway, Caesars Sportsbook, PointsBet, WynnBET, and FanDuel./p>

Boston Celtics

The Celtics did not wait for sports betting to be legalized in MA before seeking out a sportsbook partner. They didn’t have to go very far to find their partner, with industry king DraftKings headquartered right down the street from the team’s home arena in downtown Boston. This natural partnership between the NBA’s Celtics and DraftKings will serve both parties well as legal sports betting becomes as popular in MA as it already is in neighboring states, which are also filled with Celtics fans. The NBA has partnerships with Bally Bet, Bet365, Betsafe, Unibet, Betway, PointsBet, Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, and FanDuel.

Boston Bruins

The popular NHL team does not currently have any sports betting partnerships, but the NHL has gone all-in on sports betting, partnering with seven different operators: PointsBet, Bally Bet, Bet365, BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Betway. The league even took an equity stake in PointsBet, which pretty much solidifies which side of the gambling fence the sport is on. 

Boston Red Sox

While the Sox may be Boston’s team, they only have two sportsbook partners: BetMGM and DraftKings. As for the MLB, the league has several sportsbook sponsors, including BetMGM, Bally Bet, Betsafe, FanDuel, FOX Bet, and DraftKings, along with many other “authorized gaming operators” that pay to use official league data. 

New England Revolution

The little brother of the other big four sports teams plays MLS soccer in the same stadium as the Patriots and is mostly a blip on the sports radar, even with the increasing popularity of the MLS nationwide. Regardless, they stand to benefit from legalized sports betting, and will possibly partner with a sportsbook someday. MLS as a league has partnered with BetMGM, making the company its official sportsbook partner. 

PGA Tour

The PGA Tour is not a team, but it does come to the Boston area pretty regularly, drawing huge crowds to the Northern Trust tour event. DraftKings, BetPARX, BetMGM, FanDuel, PointsBet, and Bet365 are all official sportsbook partners of the PGA Tour, with DraftKings even opening up a sportsbook at the Tour stop in Arizona and BetPARX doing the same in Ohio. 

Colleges and Universities

While colleges and the NCAA are steering clear of sportsbook partnerships, the fact remains that betting on college sports is very popular. The collegiate sports teams in MA have a strong base of support but are left out of the sports betting industry in the state due to the prohibition on wagering on MA college teams. The eight Division 1 teams in the state include:

DraftKings Sportsbook

You can’t write a page about sports betting in MA without discussing DraftKings, the undisputed King of Sports Betting Companies Based in Massachusetts. DraftKings started in Boston back in 2012 as one of the first Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) operators. The company’s founders most likely saw legalized sports betting on the horizon and figured DFS was as close as they could get until the laws were changed. Whatever their strategy, it paid off, because DraftKings is a juggernaut. The company is #1 or #2 in revenue in almost every state in which it operates. Being number one in Massachusetts would be a feather in their cap. 

To that end, they have stayed true to their Boston roots, growing in the city and currently occupying a huge space in the Back Bay neighborhood. And they have partnered with the Boston Celtics and the NFL, in addition to many other partnerships nationwide. DraftKings will pull out all the stops to be the most popular sportsbook in the state. 

Other MA Online Sportsbooks

If DraftKings is the favorite to win the battle for sportsbook supremacy in the Bay State, who is their competition? As mentioned above, under the pending legislation, the three land-based casinos in the state are able to offer sports betting along with several online-only licenses up for grabs.

Under the pending legislation, unlike some other states, up to seven operators in MA will not have to be tied to a land-based casino in order to operate mobile sports betting. Here are all the sportsbooks currently operating in MA: 

Competition From Neighboring States

Massachusetts has competition for sports betting revenue to its north, west, and south. Every neighboring state, including Maine, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, all have some form of legalized sports betting.

New York accepted its first sports bet in July 2019 and added mobile betting in January 2022. New Hampshire legalized sports betting in 2019 and offers both online and retail sports betting, albeit with DraftKings having a monopoly as the only operator in the state.

Rhode Island opened its doors to sports betting in November 2018 under a monopoly model run by the state lottery. Almost a year later, in September 2019, online and mobile betting went live in Rhode Island. Vermont was the last state to the party, opening up to sports betting in late 2023. 

FAQ

Who can wager in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, the legal gambling age is 21 for casinos. For lottery, bingo, and racing, the legal age to place a wager is 18. When sports betting goes live in Massachusetts, the legal age to place a sports wager will be 21. To place a legal sports bet in Massachusetts, the bettor must be physically within state boundaries, both for retail and mobile wagering.

What Betting Options Are Available in Massachusetts?

All of the common wagers you see everywhere else, including moneyline, point spread, totals, futures, props, parlays, teasers, and more, are available in MA. The same goes for the sports that are offered, with all of the major sports leagues having a wide variety of betting options. Wagering on non-MA colleges will be allowed.

Is it legal to bet on sports in Massachusetts?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Massachusetts. Mobile betting launched on March 10, 2023. Retail betting is also currently available at the state’s casinos.

Who oversees sports betting in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is in charge of regulating sports betting in the state.

What is the legal age to bet on sports in Massachusetts?

The legal age to bet on sports in Massachusetts is 21.

Which casinos in Massachusetts offer retail sports betting?

MGM Springfield (BetMGM), Encore Boston Harbor, and Plainridge Park Casino offer sports betting both in person and online. The state’s two-horse tracks are also authorized to offer retail sports betting.

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