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Massachusetts to Officially Launch Retail Sports Betting on Jan 31
By Jeff Osienya Dec 27, 2022 IndustryAfter a long wait, sports bettors in Massachusetts will finally be allowed to wager on sporting events within state lines legally. Officials have switched to high gear in preparation for the debut less than a month from now.Sports fans in the Bay State are set to begin the New Year with a bang. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) announced last Thursday that retail sports betting will finally see the light of day within the state’s boundaries starting January 31, 2023.
This market launch news has been warmly received by the masses especially considering that the launch date falls right within the time frame of the Superbowl 57 spectacle. As such, residents of the Bay State will be able to wager in person on the nation’s most popular sporting event. Meanwhile, even though the timeline falls short of the AFC and NFC championship games, excitement is already rife among prospective sports bettors.
Timeline of Events Before the Retail Sports Wagering D-Day
Before the January 31st debut date, state regulators have their hands full and will carry out a series of fundamental steps to ensure a successful retail sports betting launch. First, the kiosk for software testing will go down on January 16th. This will be followed by the MGC issuing operational certificates for casinos and other retail locations that will have certified their selection criteria.
A day before the launch, on January 30th, the regulator has proposed a retail sports betting soft launch that will involve real-life wagering but at a limited capacity. Approved casinos and retail locations will then start receiving bets the following day after a successful soft launch.
Officials from Massachusetts’ gaming watchdog will be on-site to oversee the soft launch in each of the already approved casinos. And likewise, the MGC will also post its officers at each retail location, formally entering the sports betting market on January 31st.
MGC Has Granted Three Category 1 licenses
The scheduled outline handed out by the regulator follows the approval of three licensed sports betting casinos. Encore Boston Harbor (WynnBet), MGM Springfield (Bet MGM), and Plainridge Park Casino by Barstool Sportsbook all have the go-ahead to begin their operations in Massachusetts on January 31st.
These three venues have all received Category 1 retail sports betting licenses. Meanwhile, the MGC is reviewing several sports betting providers and is in the process of approving them. On the other hand, industry giants Caesars, WynnBet, and Bet MGM have received the go-ahead to provide local casinos with fixed odd markets.
Bumpy Road for Barstool and Plainridge
The approval process has generally been seamless for the most part. However, Barstool Sportsbook’s and Plainridge Park Casino’s involvement wasn’t without qualms. Following an extensive and rigorous two-day process, Barstool and Plainridge were awarded a temporary license. On the flip side, Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield received approval for a permanent license.
The main bone of contention was the ties between parent company PENN Entertainment and Barstool Sports. Although the Commission voted unanimously for the approval of a temporary license, there have been concerns about PENN. The company, which is in the process of a Barstool buyout, has recently been accused of potentially using the acquisition as a tool to promote underage gambling through some of its shows. However, PENN clarified its position, noting that no one under 21 years old will be permitted to attend Barstool’s famed College Football Show on-site broadcasts.
There have also been concerns about Barstool owner Dave Portnoy, with allegations of him gambling irresponsibly. With all these concerns in the air, the temporary license for Barstool and Plainridge was issued on the basis that PENN will fully cooperate with the MGC in an expanded internal investigation of Barstool Sports.
High Hopes Remain for Online Sports Betting Launch
While it’s all systems go for retail sports wagering in the Bay State, the launch date of online sports betting remains unknown. There have been talks of a March launch date to capitalize on the wagering frenzy of March Madness, but nothing concrete has been reported on that end.
Be that as it may, there are many positive signs that the launch could happen soon. The first sign is that the Commission was able to plan and effectively carry out the retail launch in good time as it had intended. Just as the retail date was set with the Superbowl in mind, Bay Staters may very well see online sports wagering active in the state by the time March Madness commences.
BetMGM Massachusetts and Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts have received approval for a tethered Category 3 online sports betting license in preparation for the eventual launch of online wagering. However, this list could still be longer, with the MGC already considering applications from Caesars Sportsbook (Encore Boston Harbor), WynnBET (Encore Boston Harbor), Barstool Sportsbook (Plainridge Park Casino), and BetFanatics (Plainridge Park Casino).
FanDuel Massachusetts, DraftKings Massachusetts, BallyBet, and Betway could also be in line for untethered online sports betting license approvals. Overall, 12 mobile operators have so far applied for market entry to be ready when online sports betting finally launches in the Bay State.
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