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Massachusetts Retail Sports Wagering Now Live at 3 Commercial Casinos
By Jeff Osienya Feb 03, 2023 IndustryAfter years of waiting, in-person sports betting has finally been unveiled in Massachusetts at its three commercial casinos. Mobile sports wagering will be coming to Bay Staters later in March, in time for the NCAA March Madness.On Tuesday, 31st January 2023, retail sports betting finally went live in the Bay State, right in time for Super Bowl LVII and in good time for March Madness. The debut marked the end of what seemed like a lifetime of waiting for sports betting fans in Massachusetts and a fantastic achievement for state officials who worked on the bill.
A few minutes before Mayor Sarno placed the first bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge, MGM Springfield’s President, Chris Kelley, noted:
Quote“We’re standing here right now on the precipice of an overnight sensation that has been years in the making. We are celebrating the jobs and the tax revenues that it will create, and we are celebrating the multiplier effect this social experience can create for restaurants, for retail, for gaming, for our city’s economic engine.”
Sportsbooks Running the Show in the Bay State
Three sports wagering facilities, the MGM Springfield, Plainridge Park Casino, and Encore Boston Harbor, received certificates of operation from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) on Monday, 30th January.
A day later, regulated sports wagering in the Bay State officially kicked off at the BetMGM Sportsbook in the MGM Springfield Casino. The launch party was attended by prominent figures, including Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, Sen. Adam Gomez, and the former Bruins legendary defenseman Ray Bourque. All in attendance were greeted by a 15-foot poster of Kevin Garnett, the former Boston Celtics 2008 NBA champion.
The 4,586-square-foot casino boasts a top-tier in-person sports wagering lounge with stadium seating, space for wagering kiosks, an enclosed betting counter, and 45 feet viewing wall.
During the sports betting launch party, Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM, highlighted that:
Quote“The BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Springfield is a phenomenal sports betting hub designed for New England’s passionate sports fans. Today is a monumental step for BetMGM and sets the stage for us to deliver a best-in-class sports wagering experience across Massachusetts.”
At the Encore Boston Harbor, Massachusetts’s newest and largest casino, betting was available at the WynnBET Sports at 10 a.m. The casino selected 32 lucky guests to place the sportsbook’s first legal wagers at the WynnBET kiosk room.
Bettors were joined by retired sports legends, including Shawn Thornton, Johnny Damon, Eddie House, Cedric Maxwell, and Ty Law, to flag off sports betting in style. Additionally, leaders such as Rep Jerald Parisella, Aaron Michewitz, and Massachusetts House Speaker Ronald Mariano were also in attendance. Speaker Mariano was among the first people to place their bets, wagering $50 on Boston Celtics winning the NBA championships and another $50 on Bruins winning the Stanley Cup. The casino offers over 115 wagering kiosks, and ten live betting windows, available 24/7.
Alan Berg, the VP of Trading at WynnBET, voiced his enthusiasm for the sports wagering debut in a few words as follows:
Quote“Boston is one of the most premiere sports cities in the country, so to be able to finally have sports betting here right by the TD Garden is a pretty amazing thing.”
Plainridge Park Casino also welcomed sports betting at 10 a.m. and hosted a celebratory ceremony at 1 p.m. The casino’s five sports betting windows, at a temporary sportsbook, await the opening of a permanent amenity in the future and 18 betting kiosks.
Upon market maturity, the Bay State projects in-person sports betting revenue collections for tax coffers will amount to over $50 million annually.
Which Sports Can Bay Staters Wager On?
Charlie Baker, the former Governor, signed the sports betting bill into law last August. The Governor’s okay saw Massachusetts join over 30 other US jurisdictions in the burgeoning regulated sports betting scene. Baker’s drive to legalize sports betting rose from the realization that state residents were traveling to other states, such as New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, to place bets.
MA’s sports betting law allows residents to place wagers on most professional sports such as NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA, PGA Tour, tennis, boxing, racing, and mixed martial arts. In addition, the MGC approved a selection of less popular professional sports as long as a governing body sanctions them. The said less-wagered sports include billiards, bowling, badminton, field hockey, volleyball, water polo, and rugby.
Meanwhile, there are still a handful of sports that are prohibited, but the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will consider them in its February meeting later this month. They include eSports, Jai Alai, cornhole, chess, and the Olympics.
Limited Wagering on In-State College Teams
Further, betting on sports governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is permitted, but there are exceptions to protect in-state college athletes. The college sports betting law dictates that any time an in-state college or university plays, whether at home or away, the game should be excluded from sportsbooks.
Nonetheless, the college sports betting rule has an exception. Betting on in-state collegiate teams will only be allowed if an in-state college or university competes against at least four other teams. In addition, betting on Academy Awards and specific entertainment awards shows is permitted.
The good news has been well received across the state; at the same time, the Massachusetts Council of Gaming and Health has been putting emphasis on responsible gaming. Marlene Warner, the CEO of the Massachusetts Council of Gaming and Health, noted that they were taking baby steps to understand how bettors took up in-person sports betting ahead of mobile sports betting going live in March.
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