March Madness kickoff: MGM’s TAP Sports Bar welcomes sports bettors, viewers
The chatter was booming in MGM’s TAP Sports Bar on Thursday, as college basketball lovers and sports bettors alike celebrated the first official day of March Madness.
MGM Springfield’s legal in person sportsbook opened Jan. 31 and showed plenty of success during Super Bowl LVII. Now, with the launch of legal online sports betting in the state on March 10, fans have been looking to have their try at it for the NCAA basketball tournament.
“I absolutely bet on the tournament. Absolutely,” TAP guest Todd Tessier told MassLive.
Along with the excitement of sports betting, Tessier noted the energy of the March Madness tournament is what draws him in.
“I love the first two days where you have so many games that all happen at once. It’s the best teams playing and you get to see the best of the NCAA pitted against one another. It’s a really great time.”
His secret to betting? Tessier told MassLive that betting on the teams you don’t usually bet could pay off. However, he noted you can never go wrong with actually looking at the stats of the teams and their players.
Hosting March Madness viewing is Tom Baron, general manager of TAP and TopGolf Swing Suite at MGM Springfield, who is excited to see the energy sports bettors and viewers bring to the establishment.
“It’s fantastic. People have been waiting for this for a long time now with BetMGM and sports betting. It really just adds a different element to it all so it’s great.
Guests of TAP have the options of placing their mobile bets and viewing the madness at TAP’s bar top and dining area, Top Golf and their sports viewing lounge, complete with giant TVs and bowling access.
The turnout of those who showed up for the beginning of March Madness has been “incredible,” said Beth Ward, director of community affairs at MGM Springfield. The arrival of BetMGM coming to the sportsbook at MGM has also drawn in a ton of success.
BetMGM is the exclusive sports betting division of MGM, both online and in MGM casinos nationwide.
“BetMGM coming to the sportsbook is not only betting online, but the amount of people who have come to the sportsbook and have continued to come especially during the NCAA tournament has been phenomenal,” she said.
