Situated on the East Coast of the United States, Massachusetts has a population of 6.893million (2020) and has good sports betting potential.
The Bay State has some of sport’s most storied franchises within its state lines – including the NFL’s all-conguering New England Patriots, baseball’s Boston Red Sox (who play at iconic Fenway Park), the NBA’s Boston Celtics and the NHL’s Boston Bruins.
But despite all those terrific sports betting options literally on their doorstep, as well as legislation now having been passed, Massachusettsans still have to wait to bet legally on sports.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts legalized sports betting on August 10, 2022. Ultimately, the need for extra tax dollars due to the catastrophic financial impact of COVID-19 helped push the case for the legalization of sports betting over the legislative line.
However, the actual market launch date is yet to be determined, as the scamble for licensing has only just begun.
Massachusetts betting legislation permits the following types of operators:
- Commercial casinos
- Racetracks
- OTBs
- Online operators
Restrictions also apply on prop betting for collegiate athletes, as well as betting on in-state collegiate teams, unless these are participating in a tournament comprised of four or more collegiate teams.
Legal Sports Betting near Massachusetts
While you can’t bet on sports legally in Massachesetts yet, there are out-of-state options to satisfy your desire for a wager. Some of these are less than an hour’s drive from Boston.
Here are some of your best options right now:
New Hampshire: Legal since 2019, but with limited choice if you’re looking for great odds. Only DraftKings is licensed so far – for both retail and online. You need to be aged 18 or over, be in-state and have a United States Social Security number.
Rhode Island: Initially only allowed in-person betting at retail sites. But now you can download the state lottery-run app powered by William Hill, anywhere in-state. Legal age is 18 or above.
New York: Despite the huge potential – particularly in Manhattan – legal sports betting is limited to less than a handful of upstate casinos if you are 21 or older. This may change soon, though.
NB: It is technically legal to bet in Connecticut, but not actually possible yet. A rollout plan though is on the agenda so CT could be at bat soon.
Are Offshore Sportsbooks Legal in Massachusetts?
Offshore sportsbooks are not operating legally when they accept bets from the United States. They have no license to take bets in any state.
Signing up with these sportsbooks is pretty tempting – particularly if your home state isn’t legal yet. But you have zero consumer protection if things go wrong.
So our advice, look inside the country for legal options, and play it safe.