Sports betting is now live and legal in Massachusetts, and residents of the state are gearing up to make the most of this news and a number of mobile sports betting apps are now already taking on board vast numbers of customers following the passing of the relevant legislation that occurred on Friday 10th of March.
This comes 38 days after retail sports betting started in three Massachusetts casinos, the Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Plainridge Park in Plainville, and the MGM Springfield.
Of the online options, DraftKings has come out swinging, bringing in Boston sporting legends to help put together a commercial for their brand. These heroes included Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman and Zdeno Chara, former captain of the NHL side, the Boston Bruins.
As is the way post-legalization, the regulated licensed operators will now lavish upon the state’s residents a whole plethora of welcome bonuses and promotions in an attempt to land customers in a market that is sure to be booming from day one.
Nine operators have been given a license, but of those, Bally Bet and Fanatics are pushing their launch date to May.
Brands Offered License in Massachusetts
- BetMGM
- WynnBET
- Barstool Sports
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
- Caesars
The brands above are currently live in the state, and the others are in a holding pattern at present.
The timing of the launch is opportune, with NCAA March Madness sure to attract massive interest and, of course, the fact that a number of major sports teams play in the state is sure to drive wagering in a big way.
Major Sports Teams in Massachusetts
- Boston Celtics – NBA
- Boston Red Sox – MLB
- New England Patriots – NFL
- Boston Bruins – NHL
- New England Revolution – MLS
The process to bring legal sports betting to Massachusetts has been a lengthy one, and it came in very late, just ahead of a Certification of Operation deadline, though MGC (Massachusetts Gaming Commission) Chair Cathy Judd-Stein was nonetheless confident the job would be done, stating;
“I never had any doubt the team of the gaming commission would meet the deadline,”
“The deadline was established for the best benefits of the Commonwealth and today, with the online launch of six of the 10 temporary licensees, we feel good that this is working for the benefits of the Commonwealth.”
It is a market that many believe will be among the most profitable in the US, an opinion echoed by Ian Williams, President of WynnBET, one of those brands that have been offered a license in the state;
“In a year, Massachusetts could be the No. 2 state in the country behind New York in terms of betting handle,”
“People told me that Boston wasn’t a big college basketball market. We have not seen that at all,” Williams added.
And indeed, it’s worth noting the upward trajectory shown by the Boston Celtics, who narrowly missed out on a first NBA title since 2008 last season and are well placed to push deep into the post-season again in 2022-23.
