Legal Sports Betting Begins in Massachusetts at Casinos

Three casinos received operation certificates from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Monday, which paved the way for the start of retail, and therefore legal, sports betting in the Bay State.

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Legal sports betting is officially underway in the Bay State. 

Three casinos became the first sports betting sites in Massachusetts to take event wagers from the general public on Tuesday, as Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MGM Springfield in Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville began accepting action.

Wynn Resorts’ Encore Boston Harbor has a WynnBET sportsbook and plenty of kiosks for wagering, including some in its parking garage. MGM Resorts’ MGM Springfield has a BetMGM sportsbook. PENN Entertainment Inc.'s Plainridge Park opened a Barstool Sportsbook.  

— WynnBET (@WynnBET) January 31, 2023

The three casinos received operation certificates from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) on Monday, which paved the way for the start of retail, and therefore legal, sports betting in the Bay State. Mobile sports betting sites will launch in Massachusetts in March, according to the MGC’s timeline. 

Encore Boston Harbor’s first sports bet was on the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl. However, the casino also rolled out some local sports celebrities for its grand opening, including former Boston Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon.

At Plainridge Park, former New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich placed the first wager. And, at MGM Springfield, the sportsbook's first action came from Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, who was joined by Boston Bruins hockey legend Ray Bourque. 

"The BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Springfield is a phenomenal sports betting hub designed for New England’s passionate sports fans,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said in a press release. “Today is a monumental step for BetMGM and sets the stage for us to deliver a best-in-class sports wagering experience across Massachusetts."