Nine Massachusetts mobile sportsbooks are now licensed for launch on March 10 after a vote of the state gaming commission Thursday.
The nine sportsbooks that received a temporary Massachusetts mobile sports betting license Thursday (BallyBet, Betr, FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, WynnBet, and Penn Sports Interactive) are among 11 operators found eligible for a one-year temporary sports betting license by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in January. Five of the nine operators (Penn, Fanatics, BetMGM, WynnBet, and Caesars) are tied to the state’s three casinos. The other four are standalone operators.
All but two of the nine operators will likely launch on March 10. BallyBet and Fanatics are postponing their launch until May, MGC Executive Director Karen Wells told the commission at Thursday’s meeting.
“We are very confident in the ability of the licensees to launch on the 10th – those that are ready to go,” Wells said.
PointsBet, Betway Not Among Temporary Mass Sports Betting Licensees
Not included among the temporary licensees are PointsBet and Betway.
PointsBet notified the commission in writing of its decision to withdraw its application for a temporary license in recent weeks, said Wells.
“So they have not submitted the $1 million (temporary license fee), and they have not requested a temporary license,” she told the commission. “They did indicate in their letter that ‘…on behalf of PointsBet, they’d like to express immense gratitude to the (commission) for its meticulous and thorough approach to launching the sports wagering regulatory structure in the commonwealth.”
Betway’s temporary license approval is on hold pending payment of fees. Wells expects the commission to receive the fees by next week.
However, Betway is not expected to launch in Massachusetts until next year. The delay follows the recent acquisition of Betway US partner DGC by UK-based Super Group in early January. The commission said Thursday that it anticipated the delay when it approved Betway’s application last month.
Caesars Expected To Launch Retail Sportsbook With Raynham Park
Caesars Sportsbook’s mobile sports betting partner in Massachusetts is Encore Boston Harbor. The casino operates a WynnBET-branded retail sportsbook and partners with WynnBET for its second mobile app.
Caesars also apparently has its eye on the Massachusetts retail market. The Vegas-based operator is partnering with historic greyhound track Raynham Park for retail sports betting. The now-simulcast racing center itself announced Jan. 23 that it has partnered with Caesars to open a retail sportsbook in its current space, according to a Jan. 24 story in The Brockton Enterprise.
According to Wells, the commission will have an opportunity next month to approve a Caesars-branded retail sportsbook at Raynham Park. That application will come before the commission on March 28.
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
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