Massachusetts Sports Betting

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Lawmakers missed an opportunity to bring Massachusetts sports betting online during the 2021 legislative session. The state was trying to figure out sports betting at a time when its neighbors, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, already allowed betting and not just that, but allowed anyone who drives in the state to download a dedicated mobile betting app and place a wager legally.

Well, legal sports betting in Massachusetts need not wait any longer at all, and although 2022 was a year of regulatory lull, the Bay State did get sports gambling legalized. This led to the official launch of sports gambling in the state on January 31, 2023, when retail options rolled out, and after that, on March 10, 2023, the arrival of online sportsbooks.

Gov. Charlie Baker‘s backing of sports gambling in the Bay State has most certainly helped move the needle in the right direction. Legalization attempts succeeded, opening the sluicegates of innovation for the state and ushering in sports betting.

Latest Gambling News in Massachusetts

What Online Sportsbooks Are Available in Massachusetts?

There are seven main sportsbooks in Massachusetts as of the time of writing this. Some of the main ones include:

  • DraftKings: Operating out of Boston, DraftKings is hailing from Massachusetts. As such, it has strong clout with the local fantasy sports betting market, which is the only form of wagering allowed at the time.
  • FanDuel: Where DraftKings goes, FanDuel follows. FanDuel is another operator that had a foothold in the state through its daily fantasy sports platform even before sports betting legalization in 2022 and the subsequent launch in 2023, and bettors do appreciate it. 
  • BetMGM: The company’s brick-and-mortar partner, MGM Resorts, already runs the Springfield Casino in the state, giving the BetMGM sports betting app a strong entry into the state. 
  • Wynn Resorts: Thanks to Encore Boston Harbor, Wynn is a permanently established player in the Massachusetts gambling space, and that includes legalizing sports betting. 

Of course, there are other significant local players to pay attention to as well. Fanatics is among the newest entrants in the state, and it is a company spearheaded by the eponymous apparel firm. All told, Massachusetts has a vibrant betting ecosystem, and it supports both mobile sportsbooks and retail options.

Massachusetts started January 2025 with a record $96.7 million in sports betting revenue generated on the back of $762.5 million in total sports betting handle.

Are There Mobile Betting Options in Massachusetts?

Online sports betting is, beyond doubt, the best way to launch a sports betting vertical. At first, when PASPA was repealed, lawmakers feared that remote sports wagering might undermine the integrity of sports and the industry as a whole

However, after years of running mobile betting options in the country, what has become obvious is that online sports betting is the way to make good full use of the industry, curb the offshore market, create competitive markets and fair odds, and generally boost revenue to the state, which is the main motivator for any jurisdiction to be legalizing sports gambling in the first place. 

With all of this in mind, Massachusetts sports betting is also available on mobile. New Hampshire and Rhode Island already offer online betting apps, and Massachusetts itself has distinct operators that run state-of-the-art mobile apps.

Not only that, but MA residents are already familiar with various online wagering options through the daily fantasy sports platforms that are available exclusively as remote betting options. The Bay State acknowledged that it would be remiss to skip on mobile betting, and decided to press on with it.

Professional Sports Teams to Bet on in Massachusetts

The Bay State is home to many sports teams, which makes the need to bring legal sports betting even more acute. Lawmakers may say what they want in their arguments against it, but Massachusetts residents are already betting a fair penny, and it could not be any other way, given how many professional franchises there are in the area.

Sports in Massachusetts are held on a pedestal with such teams as the Boston Red Sox (MLB) and the New England Patriots (NFL). This doesn’t quite wrap it all up, as you have more sports franchises worth mentioning, including the Boston Celtics (NBA) and the Boston Bruins (NHL). 

Sports is baked into the very fabric of the state, and whether residents are die-hard fans or just casual spectators, they definitely feel the urge to place a wager on occasion. With the state legislature struggling to find a way to push the matter forward, many residents are actually turning to offshore operators.

Each of the sports franchises mentioned here is doing well in their respective sport, and that is why interest in sports gambling is mounting. Locals feel that having a keener understanding of how their franchisees operate would give them a small edge or, at the very least, make sports wagering so much more fun. 

Since sportsbooks are already available in the state, people need not cross the borders across to into New Hampshire and Rhode Island as well as turn to illegitimate operators.

Betting on College Sports in Massachusetts: Yes or No?

College sports betting is traditionally a more contentious topic of discussion. On the one hand, collegiate games constitute a fair bit of revenue to the state. Collegiate Bowls and March Madness generate billions in offshore wagers. March Madness alone drives around $8.5 billion in legal sports betting handle, but these numbers will probably be going much higher once the United States legalizes its sports betting fully at some point after 2028.

College sports betting has long been cited as a way to undermine the integrity and fairness of such contests, but there has been no evidence to suggest that. The good news is that college sports betting has appeared on many of the 20-odd sports betting bills filed so far in the two legislative chambers, and it has been one of the reasons why Massachusetts has taken forever to legalize its sports betting industry.

While legal opposition against collegiate betting opposition exists, support of betting is unlikely to settle on anything less than allowing in-person and online sports betting in Massachusetts on both professional and college sports. Indeed, Massachusetts allows betting on collegiate sports, but there are quite a few caveats that need to be observed. Given the current regulatory context, Massachusetts may ban this form of betting.

College sports in Massachusetts is a definite yes, although lawmakers can decide to revert their decision at a later date. There are many teams in both Division I and II, and even Division III, that you will want to try and bet on.

The Boston College Eagles and the UMass Minutemen may be the two most prominent names among those, but with dozens of options, you can tailor your search. 

Is Daily Fantasy Sports a Go in Massachusetts?

Absolutely. DFS platforms are available in MA, and they provide a fair alternative to traditional sports betting contests. Fantasy sports are part of the sports ecosystem in the state, mostly through DraftKings, which is headquartered in Boston, and as such, it makes the Bay State its stomping ground.

Regardless of the location though, each state is free to establish its own unique set of DFS rules, and that predates the federal go-ahead to legalizing sports betting. DraftKings does have some clout over local lawmakers, but not enough to sway them into passing a sports betting bill unanimously. Or not yet, at least.

The availability of fantasy sports platforms is good, though, as it allows residents to familiarize themselves with legal sports betting options in preparation for any future sportsbook or sportsbooks that may launch a remote or/and in-person product. Bettors have many markets to pick from as-is, so that’s good news after all.

Can You Bet on Horses in Massachusetts?

Horse racing is actually completely legal in the state, and it contributes to the budget and the state’s economic development. Presently, Plainridge Park is the only property that accepts wagers on the ponies, making for a rather small market altogether.

Regardless, you can place a legal wager on any race that is currently listed at Plainridge Park. To do so, however, you will need to be present on-site. 

What’s the Outlook for Sports Betting in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts sports betting has been going strong and is clearly on an upward trajectory. What impasses there have been in the past, they have now been resolved.

For bettors, placing a wager on the Red Sox or New England Patriots is what matters the most, and the fact that sports fans can now do so through localized and regulated betting websites and apps is a huge opportunity to revel in this pastime.

The main question for sports bettors is what sportsbook to pick – and why not have accounts at multiple of the state’s licensed websites and apps.

The outlook for legalized sports in Massachusetts is fantastic, with the state bringing in record-setting revenue and handle.

Future Developments

To keep yourself apprised of the latest news, we recommend that you stay tuned. We will provide you with extensive coverage of the state’s legal changes and the arrival of new sportsbooks, legislative motions, and overall developments in gaming, sports betting, and gambling. We have our eyes glued to the world of sports betting both in Massachusetts and across the United States. 

FAQ

Is sports betting legal in Massachusetts?

Yes. The legislative efforts to make sports gambling in MA legal have failed in 2019, 2020, and most recently, 2021, but in 2022, the state got a motion pushed through and sportsbooks launched in 2023.

Will MA sports betting be available online?

Yes, Massachusetts does allow online sports betting.

Are college sports an available betting market?

Yes. Collegiate sports are among the available sports betting markets to bet on in the Bay State.

Should you bet offshore?

No. While there are many online sportsbooks that already target Massachusetts residents, we recommend that you stay away from those. It’s not that they are bad per se. It’s just that they are not licensed and regulated by a state-recognized body.

As such, you have no consumer protection mechanisms in place. You may suffer financial or data loss because of betting offshore and not being careful. Disputes with a sportsbook offshore are not settled by an independent mediator either, so that opens you to many vulnerabilities.