Massachusetts Sports Betting Timetable: 'Longer Than People Anticipate'
Bradford Hill warns against betting on the NFL season in Massachusetts.
Gov. Charlie Baker has until August 11 to sign the bill that will legalize Massachusetts sports betting. The Commission has full control to regulate, implement, and enforce all aspects of legal sports wagering in Massachusetts. Up to 225 new rules will have to be enacted to regulated sports gambling and the approval process will take between 60 and 90 days. Temporary licenses will be issued on a case-by-case basis.
Sports betting could start in time for the NFL season on Thursday, Sept. 8. The Commission will bring in extra investigators to vet all potential license holders. If the casinos are granted provisional licenses, betting will begin earlier. They have been preparing for this. Commission Chair Cathy Judd-Stein says they won't compromise the integrity of gaming.
The Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act allows retail sports betting at casinos and horse racing tracks and online wagering through betting apps. There are as many as 15 mobile licenses available for operators not connected to a brick-and-mortar establishment. It will mean around $60 million in annual tax revenue for Massachusetts and up to $80 million for initial licensing fees.
Plainridge Park Casino, the MGM Springfield Casino and Encore Boston Harbor will get retail licenses under the new bill. Current parimutuel license holders and slot operators will be allowed to partner with up to two mobile operators. Barstool, MGM and encore officials have said they will all seek mobile licenses. DraftKings has partnerships with the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins. Other mobile Operators chasing the Massachusetts market will likely include FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook, and PointsBet.
