Sports gambling in Massachusetts is almost here!
In August, Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill to legalize sports betting, officially joining a long list of states that allow bets on everything from the Super Bowl to college sports. Massachusetts is now one of the 36th states in the U.S. to legalize sports betting.
Massachusetts’ law is a little different compared to other states, so here’s what you need to know before launch:
IN-PERSON (RETAIL)
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has approved retail licenses for MGM in Springfield, Plainridge Park, and Encore Boston Harbor. Encore and the MGM have already built sports bars in their casinos that are basically sports books-in-waiting. Gaming officials recently granted a temporary license to Plainridge Park, allowing it to take in-person sports bets.
The law also allows Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs to open on-site sports books.
MOBILE
DraftKings Sportsbook. (Credit: Foxwoods.)
Casinos in Massachusetts have automatically secured partnerships with BetMGM (MGM Springfield), Barstool Sportsbook (Plainridge Park) and WynnBET (Encore Boston Harbor) because they’re owned by the same companies of their respective sportsbooks. Seven other companies (DraftKings or FanDuel) will be able to launch mobile sports betting apps.
According to the new law, you have to physically be in Massachusetts when you’re placing a bet. So, you won’t be able to place bets across state lines (duh.)
No enforcement plan has been outlined yet, but other states with mobile sports betting use geotagging on websites and apps to verify the user’s location.
WHEN WILL BETTING BEGIN?
People attend a soft opening of the Mohegan Sun Sportsbook Thursday where a 140-foot video wall has been built at the 11,000 square-foot betting area.
3 Sports BettingIn-person betting will go live on January 31st barring any unforeseen setbacks. According to Joe Murray, there will be a “soft-open” on Monday, January 30th. This comes after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approving retail licenses to Encore Boston Harbor, Plainridge Park Casino and MGM Springfield in recent weeks.
As for mobile bets, regulators have said in the past they hope to have mobile bets up and running in early March 2023.
WILL BETS BE TAXED?
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Yes, but consumers won’t see it imposed on their wagers or winnings, unlike the state’s sales tax or marijuana excise tax.
According to PlayMA.com, sportsbooks will pay a 20% tax on revenue from online sports betting and 15% on in-person winnings. Massachusetts sports betting tax revenue will be allocated across the following funds:
45% to the General Fund
27.5% to the Gaming Local Aid Fund
17.5% to the Workforce Investment Trust Fund
9% to the Public Health Trust Fund
1% to the Youth Development and Achievement Fund
Lawmakers estimate that the taxes will bring in $60 million in state revenue each year in addition to $70 to $80 million from initial licensing fees, which must be renewed every five years.
