March 10 Floated for Potential MA Online Sportsbook Launch
Online sports betting in Massachusetts could launch on March 10 at 10 a.m.
That’s according to Karen Wells, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, who floated that potential launch date during Thursday’s MGC public meeting.
“That’s what we’re looking at,” Wells said.
Wells said the launch timeline depends on the quality of the online sportsbook operators’ internal control submissions — and of their responses to issues raised by the regulators. If some sports betting operators move more quickly in this process than others, Wells suggested Massachusetts could employ a staggered launch — but some apps going live before others.
But she didn’t seem too keen on that idea, which is rare in the US sports betting industry.
“They are all getting the same approach to their review,” Wells said of each potential MA online sports betting operator.
With a March 10 online launch date, Massachusetts residents would be able to bet using online sportsbook apps in time for March Madness. The men’s college basketball NCAA Tournament begins March 14 and the women’s college basketball tournament begins March 15.
Other than the Super Bowl, March Madness is the most bet-on sporting event in the US each year.
Which Apps Will Launch on March 10?
These 10 apps are expected to launch when MA online sports betting goes live:
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- BetMGM
- Caesars Sportsbook
- PointsBet
- Barstool Sportsbook
- Bally Bet
- WynnBET
- Betr
- BetFanatics Sportsbook
Betway has also received a license from the MGC, but it won’t launch a Massachusetts app until later in 2023.
Retail sports betting in Massachusetts launched at 10 a.m. on Jan. 31. Sportsbooks are currently open at Encore Boston Harbor (WynnBET), MGM Springfield (BetMGM), and Plainridge Park Casino (Barstool Sportsbook).
Horse racing simulcast facility Raynham Park has also inked a deal with Caesars Sportsbook to have a retail Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts on its premises. The MGC has received Raynham Park’s retail sports betting license application, an MGC spokesperson told PlayMA, but it has not yet scheduled the application’s public review.
