Sports betting continues to sweep the nation, and Massachusetts has now joined the 31 other U.S. states that have legalized and launched licensed sports books. The commonwealth introduced in-person betting through casino representatives and kiosks on January 31, and has now rolled out online betting as of March 10.
What a difference a half-decade makes! Before 2018, Nevada served as the only state that allowed across-the-board sports betting. The Supreme Court ruled that year to reverse the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), effectively granting individual states the right to legalize. Now 36 states including Massachusetts offer some form of sports betting, and many others have plans in the works.
Is sports betting legal in Massachusetts?
Sports betting is legal in the state of Massachusetts as of January 2023. State legislators introduced and enacted Bill H.6154 on Aug. 1, 2022, after a passing vote of 151-2. Governor Charlie Baker signed the bill into law on Aug. 10, 2022. In-person sports bets on professional and college sports events can now be made at select sportsbooks in Massachusetts. State residents can also make online bets as of March 10.
The law includes a 15% tax on in-person wagering and 20% tax on mobile wagering.
Can I bet on college sports in Massachusetts?
Sports wagers can be made on college sports in Massachusetts, with one asterisked note: no bets will be allowed on in-state college teams, unless they're playing in a tournament like NCAA March Madness, the Frozen Four, or a BCS bowl game.
What will you be able to bet on in Massachusetts?
— Bill Speros (@billsperos) January 12, 2023
Here are the proposed 47 different sports/events
Final List & Vote Scheduled For January 20th
Process will always be on-going, as is it elsewhere
-MORE- pic.twitter.com/rWA2u7RlQE
How do I bet on sports in Massachusetts?
The bill signed into law by then-Governor Baker in August 2022 essentially allows users over the age of 21 to make online, mobile, and retail sports wagers. Between Jan. 31 and March 9, only retail wagering was allowed. On March 10, online wagering became available to residents. All legal sports bets must be placed within state lines.
Sportsbooks utilize geolocation to track your device's internal GPS chip. When betting online via any device, users will be prompted to download a plugin to make legalized bets. If making retail wagers, head to a Massachusetts casino to make your bets in person.
Where can I bet on sports in Massachusetts?
The following casinos will feature immediate in-person sports betting.
Encore Boston Harbor (Wynn)
MGM in Springfield (MGM)
- Plainridge Park in Plainville (PENN/Barstool Sports)
Encore and the MGM have long awaited this launch, having already built sports bars in their casinos that now serve as their sports books. Gaming officials unanimously granted a license to Encore (a Wynn property) in early December 2022. Regulators then granted the state's second sports betting license to MGM one week before Christmas. A temporary license was also granted to Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville around that time, under stipulations that the casino cooperates with the MGC’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau as it conducts an investigation into Barstool Sports.
Barstool Sports — and its founder, Swampscott native Dave Portnoy — have been under scrutiny since Plainridge Park owner PENN Entertainment moved to purchase 36 percent of Barstool and announced plans to buy the rest of the company and operate its sportsbook under the Barstool name. Officials have voiced concerns over Portnoy's open comments about his irresponsible gambling, and have also taken issue with PENN's lack of vigilance over carding its Plainridge casino patrons.
The law also allows Raynham Park and Boston's Suffolk Downs to open on-site sports books.