Massachusetts Sports Betting Sites

Massachusetts sports betting began as a few retail locations opened their doors to accept wagers on January 31, 2023. On August 10, 2022, Governor Charlie Baker signed a sports betting bill into law. The bill passed in July of 2021 but the movement to legalize sports betting was delayed until August.

Online sports betting was able to launch on March 10, 2023. Here’s what you need to know about Massachusetts sports betting and more.

What’s Happening in Massachusetts Sports Betting Right Now

Three retail locations were approved and started to accept bets on January 31, 2023. There was a “soft launch” the day before for a limited amount of bettors.

Mobile sports betting launched on March 10. Sports bettors in the state are thankful it was available before NCAA March Madness.

BetMGM, WynnBET, and Barstool Sportsbook have already secured partnerships with Casinos in the state.

Massachusetts Online Sportsbooks

With the 15 online sports betting licenses, you’ll see the major players fighting for a spot in the state. Here are a few you can expect to likely be fighting for sports betting revenue.

BetMGM

BetMGM has been approved for a mobile license to go along with the retail license at MGM Springfield. You can score great promotions and use the sportsbook’s solid features like live betting, edit my bet, and more.

DraftKings

DraftKings is headquartered in Boston and the company currently offers Daily Fantasy Sports contests. It’s a leading sportsbook in many legal states and a prominent name in the sports betting world.

Caesars

Caesars has one of the best VIP loyalty programs in the business. The sportsbook also has solid live betting, live streaming, and more for sports bettors in the state.

FanDuel

With its strong live betting options and same-game parlay. It has been a strong sportsbook in states across the country. New users should take advantage of the latest promo codes in the state.

How to Place a Bet with a Massachusetts Sportsbook

To start online sports betting in Massachusetts, you must first reside in the state. You can then download a mobile sportsbook app or visit a retail location. Once you have downloaded an app, register by providing your personal information such as name, birthday, and address. This helps the sportsbook confirm your identity so that you can start betting.

After signing up, you can make a deposit or take advantage of any promotions or offers. Now, you are ready for legal online sports betting in Massachusetts. You can browse through the popular bets or explore the professional sports teams that you can bet on.

There will be several sports betting sites available for you to choose from. If you are new to sports betting, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules before placing bets.

Massachusetts Sports Betting Retail Locations

Three casinos were granted licenses as retail sportsbooks and they have teamed up with popular sportsbook brands. The casinos will be granted two online skins each.

Here are the casinos that are accepting sports bets since retail locations launched in the state at the end of January.

MGM Springfield – BetMGM

MGM opened its Springfield complex back in August of 2018. Officials built a multi-million dollar sportsbook at the casino.

The sportsbook lounge has over 70 theater seats and an island bar. There will be a smaller VIP sports lounge and viewing wall as well.

Encore Boston Harbor – WynnBET

The casino offers 10 live betting windows at its WynnBET Sports bar. The area has a 123-foot-long video wall that opened in September of 2021.

The sportsbook also hosts betting kiosks and a WynnBET kiosk room.

Plainridge Park Casino – Barstool Sportsbook

Plainridge is the oldest gaming venue in Massachusetts. Its slot parlor opened in 2015 and is operated by Penn National Gaming which owns Barstool Sports.

There has been some controversy over the relationship with Barstool but Plainridge was able to receive the green light. Barstool will still be in the running for a mobile sportsbook license.

Legal betting options in Massachusetts

As you wait for the ability to wager on sports, there are a few betting options. The state is home to two full-scale casino resorts and a slots-only racino.

Casino gambling in Massachusetts

You can visit the MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor, and Plainridge Park Casino for non-sports betting options. These three are partnered with sportsbooks and the retail locations opened on January 31, 2023.

Online horse betting in Massachusetts

Massachusetts betting allows for horse racing and horse betting. You can bet on horses using online betting sites.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Legal DFS play goes back to 2016 in the state. Some say it can claim to be the capital of Daily Fantasy Sports due to DraftKings coming to life in Boston.

What you can’t bet on in Massachusetts

The sports betting law will prohibit certain types of wagers you might see sportsbooks in other states offer.

Politics

Sorry but no betting on who will become president. Also no betting on any election at the state or federal level.

Entertainment award ceremonies

As of now, there will be no betting on events such as the Oscars or Grammys. This is subject to change.

eSports betting

It is currently unclear where regulators fall on esports. This could potentially change after retail and online sports betting launches.

In-state college sports teams (except for tournaments)

What about betting on college sports? You will not be allowed to wager on college sports teams located in Massachusetts unless they are competing in a tournament. Sports bettors would not be able to bet on a regular season Boston College football game.

Massachusetts lawmakers have been going back and first on sports betting legislation involving college teams. For now, you can only bet on in-state teams for major events such as March Madness.

What are the Major Sports in Massachusetts to Bet On?

New bettors using online sportsbooks in Massachusetts will have several major sports to choose from to place bets. These professional sports include the NBA, MLB, NFL, MLS, NHL, PGA Tour, and much more. If you have any questions on what sports will be available, be sure to contact customer support at your sportsbook.

Teams for Massachusetts Sports Betting

When sports betting goes live, there will be quite a few professional sports teams for Massachusetts bettors to wager on. Sports fans can expect to be able to wager on the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, and the New England revolution.

Currently, sports betting with college teams in the state is off-limits unless it is a major college tournament. Bettors can place wagers on teams outside of the state such as Penn State, USC, Texas, and more in major college sports.

There are a lot of different promotions you might be seeing from sportsbooks. After online sports betting becomes legal, be sure to keep up with the latest offers from books as new sports betting offers will continue to surface throughout the year. Here are a few of the most common offers and promotions.

Bonus Bets

A bonus bet is one of the most common and easiest offers to claim with a sportsbook. You receive bonus bets just for registering. For example, a sportsbook might give new users $200 in bonus bets. The bets are usually split up. You might receive 8 $25 bets.

First Bet Insurance

If you lose this type of bet, you get your money back as a betting credit up to a specific maximum set by the sportsbook. If you win, you will receive a normal payout based on the odds you bet.

Many sportsbooks will use different terms for this type of bet such as No-Risk Bet, No Sweat First Bet, Second Chance Bet, and more. They are all referring to the same thing.

Deposit Match

It’s common to see sportsbooks offer a deposit match. This is a dollar-for-dollar on the first deposit you make up to a specific amount. It is a quick way to boost your bankroll before placing any bets.

Odds Boosts

Sportsbooks will offer an odds boost on a bet that usually requires betting more money to win. For example, Joe Burrow’s over 1.5 touchdown passes might be boosted from -170 to +100. An odds boost usually comes with a specific limit a user can wager.

Referral Bonuses

You can earn money each time your referral link is used by someone to sign up. This is a good way for new Massachusetts bettors to earn some extra money for their accounts as they get started.

Bet Types for Massachusetts Sports Betting

The many sportsbooks that will eventually be available in Massachusetts will have plenty of different bets for users to choose from. Here are some of the bet types you can expect to see in the state of Massachusetts when placing wagers.

Moneyline

This is when you bet on the outright winner of a game or an event. All that matters is what team wins or loses.

Point Spreads

This is the type of bet that represents how much a team will win or lose a game by. For example, the line might be -3.5 for the Patriots to cover vs the Bears.

This means the Patriots need to win by 4 points or more for you to win the bet. Negative means the team is favored while a plus sign means they are the underdog.

Totals

This is also commonly referred to as an over/under bet. Oddsmakers will set a score/points total for a game and you can select whether the combined final score of both teams will be over or under that line.

In a matchup between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, you might see the total set at over/under 7.5 runs. If 8 runs were scored in the game, an over bet would win.

Parlays

A bet that combines multiple picks into one single bet. All the picks have to end up being correct for you to win. If you get just one bet wrong of the bunch, you lose.

For example, you pick Tennessee, Kansas State, and Penn State to win on a college football Saturday. All 3 teams have to win for you to get your payout.

Live bets

Odds are constantly changing during an event and you can bet while a game is taking place. The odds and lines change based on the flow of the game. Many different types of wagers are available if you want to place live bets such as totals, point spreads, money lines, and more.

Prop Bets

A prop is betting on a specific outcome involving a team or a player. For example, Jayson Tatum’s total points might be set at 25.5 vs the Bulls.

If you select the over, it means he would need to score 26 points or more for the bet to win.

Futures

This is a bet that will conclude on a future date. You can bet on the Red Sox to win the World Series or the Patriots to make it to the Super Bowl.

Futures bets can be placed in the preseason and a long way out from the event. The odds change throughout the season based on how teams are playing.

There are benefits to having more than one sportsbook account. Most bettors will have several online apps or websites to choose from. Here are a few things to consider when online legal sports betting finally goes live.

Different books offer varying options and bets. Make sure to check this during your research process. If you have a specific bet or sport in mind, it is important to verify that the book you choose offers it before making your first deposit.

The lines and odds offered by online sportsbooks can vary. To ensure you get the best value for your bet, it is important to compare the options at multiple books. For example, one book might offer the Browns’ moneyline at +110, while another lists it at +125.

Feel of the Sportsbook

When it comes to betting, your level of comfort is important. You should choose a sportsbook that you feel comfortable using and understand. This could be based on factors such as the design and functionality of the website or mobile app.

Sportsbook Rules

It is valuable to learn the rules of different sportsbooks. Not all bets are paid out based on the same exact rules. It is not uniform across the board.

Massachusetts sports betting FAQ

You will have to be over 21 years of age to place wagers after the launch of sports betting in Massachusetts. Starting January 31, 2023, in-person sports betting started taking wagers. Online launches March 10.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is in charge of regulating sports betting in the state.

Retail sports betting locations were able to accept wagers starting on January 31, 2023. As of now, the casinos at Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park are open for in-person betting. Online will launch on March 10.

Sports betting launched in Massachusetts on January 31, 2023, for retail locations. Mobile sports betting goes live on March 10, 2023.

21+ and Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER