Are you wondering when the launch date is for Massachusetts sports betting? Thankfully, the wait is almost over, and we have the information you need to be prepared. Don’t blink because soon, you will be betting on the New England Patriots and Boston’s endless supply of star-studded teams.
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Legal online sports betting in the Bay State could launch as soon as March 10, which means wagering via smartphones and laptops could be underway in time for March Madness, one of the most heavily-bet sporting events on the U.S. calendar. It’s the start of a new era for Massachusetts, which launched retail sports betting on Jan. 31 in a star-studded affair that saw Boston sports heroes such as Ray Borque, Johnny Damon, Cedric Maxwell and Ty Law place in-person bets at brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.
The launch of mobile sports betting in Massachusetts won’t be as flashy, but it will be far more critical to the industry and the state. In jurisdictions that allow it, mobile wagering typically accounts for 90% or more of total bets placed, making it far and away the more significant driver of revenue and tax dollars. And indications are that Massachusetts could have as many as 11 mobile sportsbooks ready to go on launch day, giving bettors in the Bay State a wealth of options to choose from.
So indeed, mobile launch day will be a huge deal in a sports-mad state with a population of over 7 million. Here’s everything you need to know about online sports betting in Massachusetts.
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Massachusetts Sports Betting Legal Status
Sports betting in Massachusetts was officially legalized in November 2021 after Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill into law. However, the state is still in the process with a plan to finally launch on March 10, 2023.
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What Sports Can I Bet on in Massachusetts?
Once it launches in Massachusetts, residents will likely be able to bet on a variety of professional and college sports, including:
✓ Football (NFL, NCAA)
✓ Basketball (NBA, NCAA)
✓ Baseball (MLB)
✓ Hockey (NHL)
✓ Soccer (MLS, Premier League, La Liga, etc.)
✓ Golf (PGA Tour, LPGA Tour)
✓ Tennis (ATP, WTA)
✓ Motorsports (NASCAR, Formula 1)
How to Bet on Sports in Massachusetts
Massachusetts retail sports betting launched on Jan. 31 at the state’s three retail sportsbooks. Those sportsbooks include Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park in Plainville. The brick-and-mortar venues are open to anyone 21 years old or older. Mobile sports betting is expected to launch on Friday, March 10, six days before play begins in the Round of 64 in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Of course, that guarantees mobile betting in Massachusetts will get off to a hot start.
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Mobile sports betting will be available to anyone 21+ physically within Massachusetts. To access the mobile function, users can download the mobile sportsbook app or visit its desktop site. From there, you create an account and have their physical location verified by a geolocation service. Deposit methods vary by the sportsbook, though depositing via credit card is not allowed under the terms of the Massachusetts sports betting law.
Massachusetts Sports Betting: Which Mobile Apps Will Be Live in MA?
As of mid-February, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission had approved 11 online sportsbooks to operate in the Bay State:
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- WynnBET
- PointsBet
- Bally Bet
- Fanatics
- Barstool
- Betway
- Betr
Some of those sportsbooks will have licenses that tie them to retail casinos, while others will be “untethered”. The Massachusetts state law allows a certain number of each type. Most, if not all, of those mobile sportsbooks will be ready for launch day in Massachusetts, although there are reports that Betway’s Bay State debut may be delayed due to the sale of its parent company.
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How to Navigate Massachusetts Sports Betting Restrictions and Options
Yes. Massachusetts lawmakers were forced to come to a compromise on college sports betting. Of course, it’s an issue that led to delays in legal sports betting being adopted in the Bay State. So, Massachusetts legislators ultimately decided to outlaw any betting on college sports teams from the state. However, they added a notable exception for tournaments. That means Massachusetts bettors won’t be able to wager on the likes of Harvard, Boston College, UMass or UMass-Lowell in the regular season. Still, they can bet on those same teams if they qualify for March Madness.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission added further restrictions by prohibiting wagers on Olympic sports that are judged, like gymnastics and figure skating. Additionally, they banned chess and cornhole (which have had recent high-profile cheating scandals), jai alai, and esports. And, of course, any wagering on high school or youth sports is expressly forbidden by state law.
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How Big Could the Massachusetts Sports Betting Market Become?
Why is the Massachusetts sports betting launch such a big deal? Because it’s set to become the ninth most-populous U.S. state with the freedom to bet on sports online. Currently, the population sits behind New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia, and Arizona. Mobile sports betting revenues will be taxed at 20% by the state, and lawmakers have estimated that Massachusetts will eventually rake in as much as $60 million annually.
Plus, that doesn’t count the roughly $80 million that Massachusetts is expected to receive from licensing fees, due at startup and upon renewal every five years.
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How Did Massachusetts Get Here?
Massachusetts has had a state lottery for 50 years and casinos for almost a decade, yet the effort to legalize sports betting in the Bay State was still tricky.
Lawmakers began pushing for legalization soon after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the nationwide ban on sports betting in 2018. However, it took three attempts before the state House and Senate began to see eye-to-eye on the same version of a sports betting bill.
Even then, the impasse over the question of in-state college sports betting threatened to derail the process. Finally, that issue was overcome in a late-night legislative session in the summer of 2022. Then-Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill into law on August 10 of that same year. From there, it took six months to set up the regulatory and licensing framework to administer mobile sports betting.
Now, all the long hours of waiting for it to come to fruition paid off. At last, the March 10 debut for the state’s launch is nearly here.
Bay Staters: Welcome the modern era of sports betting. Pretty soon here, you’ll be placing wagers on March Madness from the comfort of your couch.
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Massachusetts Sports Betting is Coming Soon
While Massachusetts residents may have to wait a bit longer for sports betting to launch, the state’s recent legalization is a promising sign. Keep an eye out for more news and updates on sports betting in Massachusetts in the coming months. And when it does launch, be sure to take advantage of the top promos and bonuses available to Massachusetts bettors.
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