Massachusetts Becomes the 36th State in the U.S. to Legalize Sports Betting

Have you ever wondered if sports betting is legal in Massachusetts? After several years of uncertainty, it finally is.

Following the Supreme Court’s repeal of a federal ban in 2018, Governor Charlie Baker signed a measure legalizing sports betting, formally joining a wave of states that rushed to permit wagering on everything from the Super Bowl to college athletics.

The new law became Massachusetts the 36th state in the United States to permit sports betting, according to the American Gaming Association.

With the passage of this law, the legislature’s lengthy efforts to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts, as they are in other states like Connecticut and Maine, come to an end.

Who is Eligible to Wager?

The same age restriction applies to sports betting in Massachusetts as it does to casino gambling. That is comparable to Connecticut but a little stricter than New Hampshire and Rhode Island, where sports betting is permitted for those as young as 18.

Exactly What Can You Bet on?

The majority of professional and collegiate sports are acceptable. That covers everything from the Super Bowl and the NBA to American football and the Finnish sport pesäpallo, which is similar to baseball.

High school and youth sports wagering are still not permitted, though.

One exception applies to college sports: bets cannot be placed on in-state college teams unless they are competing in a tournament.

A few more activities were excluded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, including chess, corn hole, e-sports, jai alai, and Olympic sports that are judged.

Additionally, gambling regulators agreed to allow betting on exceptional occasions like the Oscars, Emmys, and Coney Island’s yearly Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

In conclusion, the options are limited to sports only.

Where Will Wagering Be Permitted?

All of the state’s currently operating casinos are now eligible to apply for a license to host live sports betting under the new law. In fact, sports bars that are essentially sports books-in-waiting have already been constructed in the casinos of the MGM in Springfield and Everett’s Encore Boston Harbor. Additionally, the Plainridge Park Casino plans to open a sports book.

However, going to a casino is not your only choice.

In order to allow residents of Massachusetts to wager on their phones or laptops, the three casinos and up to seven additional businesses will be permitted to release mobile sports betting apps.

All three casinos currently have agreements in place with mobile betting apps. Additionally, the Boston-based DraftKings and its rival FanDuel were among the six “untethered” mobile gaming companies to receive approval. However, all tethered and untethered mobile betting platforms must hold out a bit longer before going live (more on that in a second).

Additionally, bear in mind that according to the legislation, you must be present in Massachusetts at the time of your wager. As a result, you won’t be able to take your phone to, say, Vermont and make bets there.

In fact, other states that allow mobile sports betting utilize geotagging on websites and apps to confirm the user’s location.

How do You Put a Bet Exactly?

Another crucial detail to remember is that no credit cards are allowed.

This means that in order to set up mobile betting accounts, you will probably need a debit card or bank routing number. The rule’s goal is to prevent problem gamblers from accruing significant debt.

What Occurs to Unclaimed Prizes?

Last, any gains from a wager on a game or event must be claimed within a year. Operators are then required to contribute any unclaimed profits to a fund supporting the Gaming Commission’s operations in overseeing sports betting.

Where Can I Place a Sports Wager Besides the Apps?

As of January 2023, Massachusetts casinos Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston Harbor have opened their doors to sports betting in addition to internet and app wagering. Each of the three received a license as a Category 1 sports wagering operator.

For its in-person platform, MGM Springfield will employ BetMGM MA, which was granted a Category 3 license. For its online platforms, Plainridge Park Casino will leverage Fanatics Sportsbook and Penn Sports Interactive (Barstool).

Besides, there are other options to bet on sports in Massachusetts. In fact, in anticipation of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s approval, Caesars revealed intentions to provide live sports betting through a collaboration with Raynham Park, a casino located just south of Boston.

The present simulcasting building will first house Caesars Sportsbook at Raynham Park’s interim opening until the sportsbook eventually relocates to a 30,000-square-foot retail space. Following regulatory permissions, the retail space will grow to become one of the country’s biggest free-standing race and sports wagering facilities.

FAQs

Is live sports betting permitted in Massachusetts?

Indeed it is. On March 10, 2023, online sports betting became law in the state. However, retail betting started in person a few weeks earlier, on January 31. With a certified sportsbook, you may now place bets from anywhere in Massachusetts without breaking the law.

Who is allowed to wager real money on sports in Massachusetts?

Bets can be made by adults over the age of 21 who are not connected to a professional or collegiate team or sport. Additionally, when placing a wager, players must be physically present in the state and not be included on any restricted lists.

How many online sportsbooks will there be in Massachusetts?

Up to fifteen internet sportsbooks are permitted by Massachusetts law. However, only six have been launched in the state yet.

Where may Massachusetts citizens make in-person wagers on sports?

Currently, three of the state’s retail casinos and racetracks accept bets in person:

• MGM Springfield
• Encore Boston Harbor
• Plainridge Park

Does internet gambling need physical registration?

Fortunately not. In-person registration is not permitted nor needed in Massachusetts. However, you may register for one of Massachusetts’ top mobile sports betting apps and start betting from any location in the state by doing so.