Massachusetts sports activities betting begins on the state’s three industrial casinos subsequent Tuesday, January 31. However earlier than the primary authorized sports activities bets within the commonwealth will be wagered at Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park, state gaming regulators wanted to formally log out on the governing circumstances.
Barstool Sports activities hosts a tailgate exterior Gillette Stadium, house of the New England Patriots, on Sept. 7, 2017. Virtually six years later, the Barstool Sportsbook is able to start sports activities betting operations in Massachusetts. (Picture: Getty)
The Massachusetts Gaming Fee (MGC) this week permitted its Sports activities Wagering Occasions Catalog. The doc particulars what sports activities the state’s licensed sportsbooks can and can’t take motion on.
The catalog permits Massachusetts sportsbooks to supply odds on skilled sports activities, together with the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. Most school sports activities are additionally permitted, however video games involving Massachusetts-based colleges are prohibited until the occasion is a part of a event with a minimal of 4 groups collaborating.
The MGC opted to carry off on permitting sportsbooks to take motion on extra offbeat sports activities, corresponding to cornhole and chess. The state additionally determined to think about Olympics betting at a later time. The following Olympics is the 2024 Summer time Video games in Tokyo.
On line casino Sportsbooks Prepped
Massachusetts is permitting sports activities betting to first start in particular person on the state’s casinos. The WynnBet Sportsbook at Encore Boston Harbor, BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Springfield, and Barstool Sportsbook at Plainridge Park are prepared for his or her first retail bettors subsequent week.
The MGC confirmed that every on line casino sportsbook may have staffed betting home windows and self-service wagering kiosks. Encore instructed the MGC it has 118 sportsbook kiosks all through its property.
MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park have far fewer sports activities betting kiosks. BetMGM says its sportsbook has eight kiosks, whereas Barstool has 20 self-service wagering machines.
The January 31 launch of in-person betting is available in time for the February 12 Tremendous Bowl. However bettors will miss out on this weekend’s NFC and AFC championship video games.
Bet365 Terminates Partnership
Bet365, a privately held sportsbook operator primarily based within the UK, is licensed in Colorado, New Jersey, and Ohio. The sportsbook had beforehand introduced its intentions to hunt market entry in Massachusetts by way of a partnership with Raynham Park.
Massachusetts’ sports activities betting legislation permits the state’s two former racetracks — Suffolk Downs and Raynham — to pursue Class 1 sportsbook licenses. The sports activities betting class permits the tracks to function a retail sportsbook and two on-line sportsbook platforms.
Bet365 final November introduced a partnership with Raynham to make use of considered one of its two on-line skins. George Carney, the proprietor of Raynham, stated he was “thrilled” to companion with one of many world’s largest sportsbook operators “to supply this high-demand leisure to our clients.”
However after Carney and Caesars Sportsbook introduced a separate deal this week, Bet365 folded. The corporate stated it should now not search approval to turn into part of Raynham’s Class 1 license.
Carney stated Caesars Sportsbook will function Raynham’s in-person sports activities betting companion. Caesars Sportsbook received’t make the most of one of many former greyhound monitor’s on-line betting alternatives, because the sportsbook is already part of the Encore Boston Harbor Class 1 license.
Whereas WynnBet will run Encore’s in-person wagering, Wynn Resorts beforehand agreed with Caesars to increase its Massachusetts license to its rival’s on-line sportsbook platform.
