State of Play in Massachusetts
Sports Betting in Massachusetts
A sports betting bill was approved by state lawmakers in August 2022. The launch of legal sports betting in the state is still pending.
For now, the Fliff sweepstakes sports gaming app and Underdog Fantasy DFS app offer the best online sports gambling options for Massachusetts players.
Sportsbooks in Massachusetts
Q&A
- Is online sports betting legal in Massachusetts? Yes. Legal online sportsbooks went live in Massachusetts on March 10, 2023.
- Can I bet on college sports in Massachusetts? Yes. The only restriction is that you can't bet on in-state teams or events.
- Does DraftKings offer fantasy games in DraftKings? Yes, DraftKings is live and offers daily fantasy sports in the state of Massachusetts. DraftKings is actually headquartered in Boston, MA, making it an extremely popular option for DFS players.
- Is DraftKings offering sports betting apps in Massachusetts? Yes. DraftKings offer a mobile app that is available for download on both Android and iOS devices. You can also bet with DraftKings MA on desktop.
- Can I bet using BetMGM in Massachusetts? Yes. BetMGM Sportsbook offers online betting in Massachsuetts.
Methodology
Massachusetts Online Betting
Massachusetts online betting is approved by law as of August 2022. The east-coast sports hotspot could eventually host one of the most dynamic sports betting markets in the U.S.
Launch Date: March 10, 2023.
DraftKings Sportsbook Massachusetts Sign-Up Offer
FanDuel Sportsbook Massachusetts Sign-Up Offer
Massachusetts Sports Betting Law
Several different sports betting bills were discussed by state lawmakers over the past few years. Gov. Charlie Baker’s signature on a Massachusetts sports betting bill ended a multi-year and highly contentious effort to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts.
With sports betting legal, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is now tasked with approving potential sports betting operators and regulating the state’s sports betting industry.
Massachusetts sports betting law permits retail and online sports betting. As is the case in every other jurisdiction, expect online betting to be the dominant force in the state.
Massachusetts is expected to be a significant east coast sports betting market due to its vibrant sports fanbase, top-performing lottery, and established casino industry. Operators are lining up for one of the 15 available online sports betting licenses.
For now, daily fantasy sports sites (like Underdog Fantasy) and sweepstakes social sports gaming apps (like Fliff) are the only available form of legal sports gambling in the state.
Best Sports Betting Alternatives In Massachusetts
Top Sports Betting Alternatives in Massachusetts
Sportsbook Brands Coming to Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act authorizes up to 15 mobile betting sites.
Land-based casinos and racetracks can obtain a mobile sports betting license. Each of the state’s three casinos can operate two online sports betting platforms, while the two racetracks, Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs, are limited to a single platform. The MGC can also award up to seven online sports betting licenses.
Some of the 42 companies that have officially expressed interest in Massachusetts include:
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- BetMGM
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- WynnBET
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Barstool Sportsbook
- Bally Bet
- PointsBet
- BetRivers
- Fanatics
- Fubo Sportsbook
- Bet365
Massachusetts Retail Sportsbooks
In addition to mobile betting, the state’s land-based casinos and racetracks can also operate retail sports betting venues. Those properties include:
- Encore Boston Harbor
- MGM Springfield
- Plainridge Park Casino
- Raynham Park
- Suffolk Downs
Are Fantasy Sports Sites Legal In Massachusetts?
Massachusetts officially legalized daily fantasy sports sites back in 2016, but sites had been offering games in the state for more than five years before that. That law expired in July 2018, but lawmakers were able to pass a new law in 2018 that made this a permanent legal option.
There was plenty of debate between lawmakers about the tax rate for DFS revenue and the application process. After being unable to agree, Massachusetts decided to keep this industry legal, but the state does not regulate it.
Since there are no regulations for DFS sites, Massachusetts has attracted all of the biggest names in this industry. In addition, a wide range of DFS games is available at the live sites, allowing more players to sign up.
DFS sites in Massachusetts operate both online and through mobile apps on both Android and iOS devices.
One unique law for daily fantasy sports sites in Massachusetts is that players must be at least 21 years of age. However, most states allow these DFS sites to accept players as soon as they turn 18.
DraftKings Sportsbook Massachusetts Sign-Up Offer
FanDuel Sportsbook Massachusetts Sign-Up Offer
Salary Cap DFS Sites In MA
The DFS industry has seen plenty of growth and changes, but salary cap games continue to be among the most popular. These DFS sites in Massachusetts have branched out into other games, but the two most prominent options still focus on DFS sites.
DraftKings is headquartered in Boston, making it one of the top DFS options in the state. But, of course, FanDuel is also accepting players from the state of Massachusetts, and these companies have been rivals for nearly a decade.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel have a mobile app and offer games and contests online. Football is the sport that draws much of the attention, but a wide range of sports are available.
Salary cap games require users to draft a set roster of players based on a salary cap limit. Those rosters are entered in contests where cash prizes are awarded based on the results.
Fantasy Player Prop Games
Player prop games are still relatively new to DFS sites in Massachusetts. However, DFS operators saw a need for these games after seeing how popular traditional prop betting has become.
Instead of drafting a roster, the sites will simply offer prop betting options, and the customers can submit their picks in different formats. While this is close to betting, it’s not a wager against the sportsbook but rather a personal battle to make the correct picks.
Three of the other big-name DFS sites that are currently in Massachusetts are:
Each of the DFS sites listed above will have player prop games available and the opportunity to enter into salary cap contests. Monkey Knife Fight is the fastest growing out of this group and could be looking to challenge DraftKings and FanDuel.
Massachusetts Sportsbook & DFS Bonuses
Top Sports Betting DFS Apps in Massachusetts
Best Ball Games
Best ball games are also a newer form of fantasy sports, but these are highly similar to the salary cap games. DraftKings has started to offer best ball games, but smaller sites have made this a focus of their entire operation.
Underdog Fantasy is one site that specializes in best ball games in the state of Massachusetts. Best ball games give the site more control over the players as the DFS site is the one that chooses the optimal lineup for the player.
One advantage of best ball games is that they are not a daily bet. Instead, best ball bets are for weekly or even season-long contests.
Does Massachusetts Allow Legal Online Poker Sites?
Poker is a legal game in Massachusetts, and bettors can play in person at the casinos. However, poker is not a game that bettors can play online at a site that the state regulates.
Online poker has been around for decades, and there are still sites that will accept players from Massachusetts. However, those sites are not legal in the state. Bettors should avoid them as you could run into some problems and then receive no support from the state.
Since Massachusetts has not discussed this form of gambling, it’s not clear what the lawmakers or residents of the state are thinking. In addition, there are fewer online poker operators that target the U.S. than any other form of online gambling.
It seems likely that online poker is tied to any online casino gambling bill, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. For example, some states have legalized online casino sites but still don’t have any online poker sites.
DraftKings Sportsbook Massachusetts Sign-Up Offer
FanDuel Sportsbook Massachusetts Sign-Up Offer
Are Online Casino Sites Legal In MA?
It wasn’t until the Expanded Gaming Act in 2011 that casinos were even allowed to operate in Massachusetts. This state is now home to some massive casino properties, but this form of gaming is still relatively new. However, if there is a successful launch of sports betting, that could ultimately lead to a discussion on adding online casinos to the state.
DraftKings and BetMGM would likely become two of the biggest online casino sites in the state. This is because both companies already have a massive presence in Massachusetts. However, since there hasn’t been any discussion about this type of gaming, it’s hard to predict what the state will be looking to do with the licenses.
Online casino sites have become more popular throughout the United States, but this growth has been much slower than legal sports betting.
There are some tribal casinos in Massachusetts, but these tribes don’t control the casino industry like in other states. This will help legalize online casino sites, as the state can pass a law and won’t explicitly have to work with these tribes.
Massachusetts Sportsbook & DFS Bonuses
Top Sports Betting & DFS Apps in Massachusetts
Are Massachusetts Online Betting Sites Fair?
If and when online gambling sites in Massachusetts can go live, there will be plenty of reasons to know that they are fair. The first is that each site will have to apply for a license with the state, and only the top online gambling sites will be approved to launch.
Massachusetts is pretty far behind in the online gambling scene. This is because there are now over 30 states with legal online sports betting. Unfortunately, online gambling has turned into a highly-competitive industry, and sites that aren’t fair run the risk of falling too far behind in acquiring customers.
Who Regulates Massachusetts Online Betting Sites?
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission currently regulates this industry in the state and would likely be put in charge of overseeing the legal online sports betting industry. This is an essential step in the online sports betting process. It would be this group that receives and approves licenses.
Massachusetts sports betting law will determine the official group that legalizes online sportsbooks.
Why Should I Trust Legal Online Sportsbooks?
The reasons to trust a legal online sportsbook are similar to what was discussed above in these sites being fair. Any online sportsbooks that hold a license in Massachusetts will be trustworthy sites.
Legal online sportsbooks are much different from offshore betting sites. Those sportsbooks were not legal or regulated, and several issues emerged.
How Do I Get Paid If I Win?
Winning at an online gambling site in Massachusetts will not be easy. However, you will get paid out in a reasonable amount of time if you can win some money. If you win money at an online gambling site in the state, all of the payments will come from that individual site.
Each online gambling site in Massachusetts will have its banking department with a nice list of withdrawal options. Simply select the best withdrawal option that works for you, and you can get that process started.
Massachusetts Professional Sports Teams
- Boston Red Sox (MLB)
- New England Patriots (NFL)
- Boston Celtics (NBA)
- Boston Bruins (NHL)