Massachusetts Gaming Commission Approves Timeline for Sports Betting Legislation

Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved a timeline for the staggered launch of legal sports betting in the state. The new timeline pushes back the launch until early March after the Super Bowl. It will cost operators and bettors millions of dollars and the treasury money. Retail operators will be able to launch in late January. The state's three casinos and two horse racetracks will miss out on the action. They will have to wait until the NFL playoffs. Legislators voted on August 1 to legalize sports gambling in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved a timeline for sports betting legislation. The timeline was not clear on the launch date. It was decided to adopt the "late January" language. The earliest possible launch is on January 30th. Commission members are leaning toward a Monday, Jan. 30. Commissioner Skinner and Commissioner O'Brien are against the timeline. They are unhappy with the fact that the commission has already compromised with it. Massachusetts passed a sports betting law in the first place. Their concerns were raised at Thursday's MGC meeting. There was a virtual hearing that was adjourned late on Thursday.

"Early March" online rollout seen as "overly optimistic" target. Commissioner O'Brien believes the best-case scenario for an online launch is 45 days longer than the "early March". Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved the timeline for sports betting legislation. The Commission will consider more than 40 applications for mobile licenses. It will take the rollout for online sports gambling to the end of April.  The Chair Judd-Stein tried to point out that "reality can intrude" on the proceedings of the Commission in the coming months.