Legal Massachusetts sports betting launched in the state with regulated options on March 10, 2023. Seven online sportsbook apps, including FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and DraftKings are currently available in the Bay State.
Massachusetts became the second state to legalize mobile sports betting in 2023, following Ohio’s launch on New Year’s Day. Since going live, Massachusetts residents have wagered over $8 billion, generating more than $140 million in revenue for the state.
Here, we look at everything you need to know about MA sports betting news, industry updates, gambling laws, and much more.
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Massachusetts Sports Betting: Quick Facts
ℹ️ Massachusetts Sports Betting | ✔ Available |
---|---|
💰Types of Sports Betting Available | ✔📱 Online ✔ 🏙 Retail ✔ 🏧 Kiosks |
👨👩👧👦 Population | 6.9 million |
🚀 Launch Dates | 🏙 Retail - Jan. 31, 2023 📱 Online - March 10, 2023 |
📱Apps Now Live | 7 |
📱Approved Mobile Sites | 10 |
🏦 Approved Retail Sites | ✔ Encore Boston Harbor ✔ MGM Springfield ✔ Plainridge Park Casino |
🏫 College Sports Betting? | ✔ Yes with the exception of in-state NCAA colleges |
💲Tax Rates | 20% Mobile; 15% Retail |
Massachusetts Sports Betting Laws
Online sportsbooks in Massachusetts are taxed at 20% of their adjusted gross revenues, while retail sportsbook revenues are taxed at a 15% rate. Taxes on gross sports wagering revenue are allocated to the following specific state funds: 45% is allotted to the General Fund, 27.5% to the Gaming Local Aid Fund, 17.5% to the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, 9% to the Public Health Trust Fund, and 1% to the Youth Development and Achievement Fund.
Massachusetts House Bill 5164 allows retail or online sportsbooks to launch under a temporary license for a $1 million fee. Operators seeking a permanent license must pay $5 million, renewable after five years for another five years.
Under Massachusetts’ sports betting bill, up to seven licenses will be granted to sportsbooks that are not tethered to casinos or racetracks. Casinos, racetracks, or simulcast facilities will not be allowed to partner with sportsbooks holding one of those seven stand-alone licenses. The law allows Category 1 sports wagering operators to operate in-person wagering at their properties and on up to two online platforms. The online platforms attached to a Category 1 license will be licensed as Category 3 sports wagering operators.
MA Sports Betting Licenses
There are three types of licenses residents should be aware of:
Category 1 Sports Wagering Licenses permit the operation of sports wagering in person at gaming establishments that hold a gaming license. The law allows for Category 1 sports wagering operators to operate in-person wagering at their properties as well as on up to two online platforms. The online platforms attached to a Category 1 license will be licensed as Category 3 sports wagering operators.
Category 2 Sports Wagering Licenses permit the operation of sports wagering in person at establishments that conduct live horse racing or simulcast wagering on horse or greyhound racing. As of Aug. 10, 2022, two establishments in the Commonwealth conduct simulcast wagering on horse or greyhound racing: Raynham Park Simulcast Center and Suffolk Downs.
Category 3 Sports Wagering Licenses permit the operation of sports wagering through a mobile application and other digital platforms approved by the Commission. The law permits the MGC to award no more than seven stand-alone Category 3 licenses. The Category 3 applicants tethered to a Category 1 license do not count toward the total of seven stand-alone Category 3 licenses.
Massachusetts Gaming Commission
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is in charge of overseeing the state’s sports wagering industry.
The MGC is responsible for developing and managing the process to select, license, oversee, and regulate all expanded gaming facilities in the state of Massachusetts. Since sports betting was legalized in the state, the commission has identified approximately 225 regulations that need to be promulgated and has worked with jurisdictions across the country to implement the best sports wagering practices.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission consists of five full-time commissioners who are responsible for overseeing and implementing the expanded gaming law. The MGC has a full list of the regulations related to Massachusetts sports betting.
Massachusetts Sports Betting Legalization Timeline
Retail sportsbooks launch in Massachusetts on Jan. 31, 2023. Online apps launch on March 10, 2023.
S.2844 passes through the Senate and moves to the House. An agreement on the legislation was then reached by state lawmakers on Beacon Hill, putting legal sportsbooks on a path to launch.
Over a dozen sports betting bills have been introduced since the 2021 legislative session began on Jan. 6. The most promising for sports bettors and operators is H. 3974. It would tax retail sports betting revenue at 12.5% and mobile betting revenue at 15%, creating an enormously competitive market.
Early legislative momentum for legal sports betting comes to a grinding halt as the state reprioritized its focus on tackling COVID-19.
Throughout this year, the Massachusetts legislature proposed multiple possible sports betting bills. None of these progressed out of the committee phase and were individually struck down due to minor disagreements about the details.
Massachusetts state legislators look at expanding sports betting as the Supreme Court struck down the PASPA.
Massachusetts Sports Betting Revenue and Handle
Since legal sportsbooks launched in Massachusetts, the returns have repeatedly paid big dividends regarding sports betting handle and revenue.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced that the state took in $447.3 million in sports betting handle for the month of August 2024, an increase from the $411.8 million in July. Declines often happen during the summer months in the aftermath of the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament.
Of the total handle in August, Massachusetts online sportsbooks accounted for $439.7 million in wagers. Thus far, the state has collected approximately $173.25 million in total taxes and assessments from the sports wagering operations of licensed operators since sports wagering began in person on January 31, 2023 and online on March 10, 2023.
Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston Harbor generated approximately $103.28 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) for August.
Based in Massachusetts, DraftKings continues to lead all online sportsbooks in the state by handling $229,375,488.20 million in wagers in August. FanDuel was next with $118,224,617.89 in handle.
🗓 August 2024 | 🗓 July 2024 | 🗓 June 2024 | 🗓 May 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
📱Total Online: $439,690,611.46 | 📱Total Online: $405,213,569.20 | 📱Total Online: $500,715,365.47 | 📱Total Online: $577,057,349.77 |
🏦 Total Retail: $7,627,864.05 | 🏦 Total Retail: $6,578,129.63 | 🏦 Total Retail: $8,641,163.75 | 🏦 Total Retail: $10,205,353.07 |
💰Total Handle: $447,318,475.51 | 💰Total Handle: $411,791,698.83 | 💰Total Handle: $509,356,529.22 | 💰Total Handle: $587,262,702.84 |
Massachusetts Retail Sportsbooks for In-Person Betting
🏦 Massachusetts Casinos and Retail Sportsbooks | 📍Address | 📱Mobile Partner | 🏧 Kiosks |
---|---|---|---|
🏦 Encore Boston Harbor | 📍1 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 | 📲 WynnBET and Caesars | ✅ 118 Available |
🏦 MGM Springfield | 📍One MGM Wy, Springfield, MA 01103 | 📲BetMGM | ✅ 18 Available + 8 point-of-sale terminals |
🏦 Plainridge Park Casino | 📍301 Washington St, Plainville, MA 02762 | 📲Barstool and Fanatics | ✅ 18 Available + 5 betting windows |
In addition to online wagering, in-person sports betting in Massachusetts went live at Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino in January 2023. All three were been approved for Category 1 sports wagering operator licenses.
- Encore Boston Harbor’s Category 1 license is tied to WynnBET and Caesars MA Sportsbook, both of which the commission found suitable for a Category 3 license.
- MGM Springfield will use BetMGM MA, which was approved for a Category 3 license, for its in-person platform.
- Plainridge Park Casino will use Penn Sports Interactive (Barstool) and Fanatics Sportsbook for its online platforms. Both Barstool Sportsbook and Fanatics have been found preliminarily suitable for a temporary Category 3 license in Massachusetts. Commissioners placed conditions on the Barstool license.
A retail sportsbook at Raynham Park has been in the works but those plans stalled after Caesars announced it was backing out of a retail sports betting partnership forged with Raynham months ago. Bet365 backed out of a mobile sports betting partnership with the simulcasting hall in 2023.
Raynham Park hopes to partner with another operator, MGA attorney Jed Nosal told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
Following a meeting that lasted nearly seven hours on Aug. 21, 2023, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission passed on a request by the Massasoit Greyhound Association Inc. — which has ownership in Raynham Park — to vote on the preliminary suitability of the simulcasting hall as a potential retail sportsbook licensee.
Other Types of Gambling in Massachusetts
In addition to being able to wager online through mobile sports betting apps, residents of Massachusetts can still engage in other forms of gambling available. Offers for other platforms may differ from conventional sports betting promos.
MA Gambling Alternative | Legal? |
---|---|
🪙 Social Sportsbooks | ✅ Yes |
💰Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) | ✅ Yes |
🐎 Online Horse Betting | ✅ Yes |
💸 Lottery | ✅ Yes |
🤑Online Casinos | ❌ No |
♠️ Online Poker | ❌ No |
Massachusetts Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
DFS was made legal in Massachusetts in 2018, but in February 2024, SBC Americas reported that the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office had sent cease and desist orders to 10 fantasy operators offering pick ’em-style fantasy sports in the state.
The AG office determined that pick’em contests are not covered under fantasy sports licenses and violate the law.
Social Sportsbooks in Massachusetts
Social sportsbooks such as Fliff and Rebet are not real-money betting sites but instead allow users to play for fun on platforms that turn sports predictions into social games. State residents can bet with Fliff Coins in social mode or Fliff Cash for the chance to win various prizes.
Horse Racing Betting in Massachusetts
Since Suffolk Downs closed in 2019, only Plainridge Park Casino has hosted any live horse racing. While the legalization of Massachusetts sports betting sparked hope that Thoroughbred racing could return to the state in 2023, citizens of Hardwick, Mass., defeated a ballot initiative to authorize a new racetrack, breeding center, and equine retirement home in a special election on Jan. 7, Bloodhorse.com reported.
The racing season at Plainridge Park Casino, the Plainville-based casino and racetrack, has live harness racing from April through November. Plainridge is the only live horse racing track in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in operation – players can also place simulcast bets at PPC.
Although live Thoroughbred racing is not returning anytime soon, bettors in Massachusetts can use the best horse betting apps.
FanDuel Racing is now live in Massachusetts. FanDuel is a market leader among apps in the horse betting space, and it has the distinction of being the first legal horse racing app in the US. FanDuel Racing is an official wagering partner of all three Triple Crown races: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Sign up with FanDuel Racing now to claim a No Sweat First Win Bet up to $500.
Boston-based DraftKings launched DK HORSE in time for the 2023 Kentucky Derby. DK HORSE was approved by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in March 2023 as an account wagering partner for Suffolk Downs and will utilize the backend technology of TwinSpires, the advance deposit wagering (“ADW”) for Churchill Downs Inc.
The Caesars Racebook app recently launched for Massachusetts customers, offering a full horse racing wagering menu and livestreaming from racetracks around the world. Customers who wager with Caesars Sportsbook and Caesars Racebook have access to top experiences available only through the Caesars Rewards loyalty program.
Massachusetts Lottery
Founded in 1971, the Massachusetts State Lottery has generated over $32 billion for the state of Massachusetts and paid out over $105 billion in prizes.
Residents can bet on draw games such as Mega Millions, PowerBall, Lucky Life, and Wheel of Luck.
Massachusetts Online Casino
Massachusetts does not have online casinos. However, individuals interested in online casino gaming can utilize one of the many sweeps casinos available in the state.
Sweeps casinos allow players to play conventional casino games using virtual currencies.
Massachusetts Online Poker
Similar to casinos, online poker is unavailable in Massachusetts. Massachusetts bettors interested in playing poker will have to travel to one of the state’s two resort casinos, or travel to a nearby state.
States with online poker include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Esports Betting in Massachusetts
Massachusetts law currently does not prohibit esports wagering, though betting catalogs are limited for this marketplace.
How Massachusetts Sports Betting Compares to Nearby States
Massachusetts has one of the most robust sports betting markets in the Northeast. Though neighbors such as Maine and Vermont offer sports betting, neither offers as many betting options as Massachusetts.
Compared to other states with legal betting, Massachusetts is quite open to gambling. The Bay State once had a thriving horse race betting scene. The state had successful racetracks over the years, including Suffolk Downs, which operated from 1935 to 2019. Today, only one race track remains at Plainridge Park in Plainville. This still allows horse race bettors to enjoy their favorite pastime.
Players can also partake in online horse race betting using operators like FanDuel Racing. Massachusetts also provides three off-track betting parlors throughout the state. These are places where you can make horse bets without having to bet at the physical track.
Massachusetts also has a few casinos open for business.
Pros and Cons of Massachusetts Sports Betting
Since Massachusetts sports betting launched in 2023, it has seen its share of highs and lows. While revenue has been strong, online casinos and online poker are not legal or regulated in Massachusetts. If you want to play casino games or poker for real money in MA, you will need to visit one of the state’s casino resorts.
Pros
Opportunities for more mobile sportsbooks Moved quickly from legalization to launch Retail sportsbooks across the state
Cons
Limitations on college betting No wagering on Olympics or esports Cracking down on DFS
Massachusetts Responsible Gaming
Ahead of the launch of retail sports wagering in the Commonwealth on Jan. 31, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced responsible gaming measures that included a Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) list that has been established specifically for sports wagering.
The VSE programs are designed to allow those who want to regain control a means to restrict their access to gambling for a pre-determined amount of time. With the introduction of sports wagering, individuals can self-exclude from casino gaming floors, retail and digital sportsbooks, or both forms of gambling.
Those interested in excluding themselves from retail sportsbook locations or mobile/online sports wagering apps can enroll in VSE over the phone at 1.800.GAM.1234, online at gamesensema.com, or in-person at a GameSense Info Center at Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield, or Encore Boston Harbor.
“With sports wagering becoming available in the Commonwealth, ensuring all players have the resources they need is paramount to the MGC and responsible gaming efforts,” said Mark Vander Linden, Director of Research and Responsible Gaming. “By mobilizing the data and research we have collected, we can advance responsible gaming strategies, practices, and policies, as well as prevention, treatment, and recovery resources.”
According to GeoComply, based on Commonwealth officials’ estimates of annualized tax revenue of $60 million, Massachusetts sports betting would add about $5.4 million to the Public Health Trust Fund, which largely supports responsible gambling programs. Massachusetts has invested in responsible gambling programs since the 2011 bill that legalized casinos. The Fund’s budget for 2022 was $17 million.
More Resources for MA Bettors
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Massachusetts Sports Betting FAQ
Yes, online sports betting is now legal in Massachusetts. Gov. Charlie Baker signed the sports betting legislation into law on Aug. 10, 2022. Mobile sports betting apps launched on March 10, 2023. Retail sports betting went live in the state on Jan. 31, 2023.
Online sports betting is the only form of legalized online gambling in Massachusetts. There are no online casinos in the state, and there are no plans to legalize them in the near future.
To place a sports bet in Massachusetts, you must be over the age of 21 and located within state lines.
Yes. DraftKings is live and legal in Massachusetts for all individuals over 21.
FanDuel is legal and available in Massachusetts for all players over the age of 21.
No. The only requirements for sports betting in Massachusetts are that players be over 21 and located within state lines.
Sports bettors must be 21 years of age or older to legally place wagers in Massachusetts. This matches the age limit for most other online gambling activities throughout the US.
BetMGM, FanDuel, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Bally Bet, and Fanatics are all available in Massachusetts.
Yes, you can bet on college sports in Massachusetts. The sports betting legislation approved by state lawmakers allows for wagering on collegiate sports in the Bay State, although betting on games involving in-state college teams will be allowed only during tournament play.
Yes. Betting with offshore platforms such as Bovada, MyBookie, BetOnline.Ag, and others is strictly prohibited in Massachusetts.