Sportsbook In Massachusetts

With all the success that Boston has had with professional and collegiate sports teams over the decades, it's no surprise that the state could potentially turn an annual sports betting handle well over a billion dollars annually. Of course, given that there is no land-based Boston sportsbooks venue in the state just yet, these MA residents are heading online to an offshore online sportsbook to place their bets on Red Sox games and other teams. Because these offshore sites are not regulated by the state and are not collecting taxes on sports betting like other states who have it legalized are, the city of Boston is losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefits.

However, now that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992) has been overturned, there is no longer any federal roadblock to Massachusetts instituting its own sports wagering legislation and regulations. If you check out our sports betting bill tracker, you can see that lawmakers are discussing multiple bills that look to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts. If these bills are successful in legalizing sports betting, sports betting lounges and sportsbooks are likely to appear in gambling venues all over the state. This could happen as soon as late 2019 or early 2020. Sports bettors have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming months ahead.

While DraftKings is a legal sportsbook in other states, sports betting has yet to be legalized within Massachusetts. However, Massachusetts has begun to develop a pathway to legalizing within 2021, where DraftKings would be one of the earlier operators. Tipico Sportsbook is working hard to open our online sports betting platform across the U.S., and the state of Massachusetts is on our list! Enter your e-mail to be notified when Tipico's mobile Sportsbook app will be live in MA. From Boston to Methuen and beyond, we expect sports betting to soon be LEGAL in Mass, and Tipico is excited to soon.

Fanduel Sportsbook Massachusetts

Is Sports Betting Currently Legal In Boston?

Sports betting is currently legal in Boston, provided that you place your wagers at an offshore, overseas sportsbook. Sites like Bovada, SportsBetting, MyBookie, BetOnline, BetDSI, and BookMaker are all first-class destinations that have been serving MA residents for decades and they each offer fair lines, live odds, easy deposits, free memberships, and guaranteed payouts.

Over 100,000 Boston residents use these sites on a regular basis, and doing so has always proved a smooth-sailing experience for everyone involved. Boston residents love using these websites because they are convenient and provide the best sports betting experience they could ever get. There is no need for them to travel to Rhode Island or New Jersey when they have sports betting right on their smart device or computer.

As for when legal land-based sports betting will come to the Boston area, it is currently unclear. There are several sports betting bills that are being considered by lawmakers, so they want to get the job done sooner rather than later. After all, Boston residents want to bet on the Patriots as soon as possible to win some easy money. Not only them but betting on all Boston teams is an easy choice for locals from the City of Kind Hearts.

Best Sportsbooks In Boston

Once land-based Boston sportsbooks open up, the websites we recommend will still be legal and will surely remain heavily-trafficked by MA residents. Though, folks looking for a true sports betting lounge experience will definitely prefer getting in on the action at physical casino locations. The closest casino to Boston is going to be located in Everett and it is the Encore Boston Harbor, which opened for business in June of 2019. It's very possible that once sports betting regulations are set in place in Massachusetts, Encore will be the first property to launch a sportsbook.

Boston sports betting enthusiasts will also be able to wager on their favorite players and teams at the nearby Plainridge Park Sportsbook as well as the under-construction Project First Light Resort and Casino in Taunton, MA. This casino will be run by the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe of Massachusetts. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like this casino will be opened in the near future because they have yet to set a launch date.

Additionally, those living in Boston will be able to cross the southern state border and wager at the world-class Mohegan Sun sportsbook and the Foxwoods Resort Casino sportsbook in Connecticut. Although sports betting is legal in Connecticut, sportsbooks haven't launched yet because the law wants regulators of sports gambling to adopt sports betting regulations and they have not done so. Once they do, the Mohegan Sun sportsbooks will be another prime location for Boston residents to go to make their sports bets.

Minimum Age To Bet At Boston Sportsbooks

The minimum legal age to wager at Boston sportsbooks is currently 18 years old, as that's what the offshore sportsbooks serving the area require of their membership. However, once land-based sports betting comes to Massachusetts, Boston residents who wish to use those services for sports betting in Massachusetts will have to be 21, in accordance with existing state-wide gambling laws. For that reason, we do recommend you wait until you are 21 to access these online sportsbooks. The offshore sites do not allow you to bet on sports if you are underage. Since casinos are likely to be the venue for sportsbooks in Massachusetts, you will have to be 21 to bet on sports. If you end up underage gambling on an offshore site, you could end up getting permanently banned and lose your winnings. Waiting until you are 21 is the safest bet.

Fanduel Sportsbook Massachusetts

Is Sports Betting Currently Legal In Boston?

Sports betting is currently legal in Boston, provided that you place your wagers at an offshore, overseas sportsbook. Sites like Bovada, SportsBetting, MyBookie, BetOnline, BetDSI, and BookMaker are all first-class destinations that have been serving MA residents for decades and they each offer fair lines, live odds, easy deposits, free memberships, and guaranteed payouts.

Over 100,000 Boston residents use these sites on a regular basis, and doing so has always proved a smooth-sailing experience for everyone involved. Boston residents love using these websites because they are convenient and provide the best sports betting experience they could ever get. There is no need for them to travel to Rhode Island or New Jersey when they have sports betting right on their smart device or computer.

As for when legal land-based sports betting will come to the Boston area, it is currently unclear. There are several sports betting bills that are being considered by lawmakers, so they want to get the job done sooner rather than later. After all, Boston residents want to bet on the Patriots as soon as possible to win some easy money. Not only them but betting on all Boston teams is an easy choice for locals from the City of Kind Hearts.

Best Sportsbooks In Boston

Once land-based Boston sportsbooks open up, the websites we recommend will still be legal and will surely remain heavily-trafficked by MA residents. Though, folks looking for a true sports betting lounge experience will definitely prefer getting in on the action at physical casino locations. The closest casino to Boston is going to be located in Everett and it is the Encore Boston Harbor, which opened for business in June of 2019. It's very possible that once sports betting regulations are set in place in Massachusetts, Encore will be the first property to launch a sportsbook.

Boston sports betting enthusiasts will also be able to wager on their favorite players and teams at the nearby Plainridge Park Sportsbook as well as the under-construction Project First Light Resort and Casino in Taunton, MA. This casino will be run by the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe of Massachusetts. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like this casino will be opened in the near future because they have yet to set a launch date.

Additionally, those living in Boston will be able to cross the southern state border and wager at the world-class Mohegan Sun sportsbook and the Foxwoods Resort Casino sportsbook in Connecticut. Although sports betting is legal in Connecticut, sportsbooks haven't launched yet because the law wants regulators of sports gambling to adopt sports betting regulations and they have not done so. Once they do, the Mohegan Sun sportsbooks will be another prime location for Boston residents to go to make their sports bets.

Minimum Age To Bet At Boston Sportsbooks

The minimum legal age to wager at Boston sportsbooks is currently 18 years old, as that's what the offshore sportsbooks serving the area require of their membership. However, once land-based sports betting comes to Massachusetts, Boston residents who wish to use those services for sports betting in Massachusetts will have to be 21, in accordance with existing state-wide gambling laws. For that reason, we do recommend you wait until you are 21 to access these online sportsbooks. The offshore sites do not allow you to bet on sports if you are underage. Since casinos are likely to be the venue for sportsbooks in Massachusetts, you will have to be 21 to bet on sports. If you end up underage gambling on an offshore site, you could end up getting permanently banned and lose your winnings. Waiting until you are 21 is the safest bet.

• Encore Boston Harbor
• Address: One Broadway Everett, MA 02149
• Phone: 857-770-7890

Located just 5 miles north of Boston, the city of Everett is effectively a Boston suburb, and it's home to one of the region's largest, fanciest casino: Encore Boston Harbor. Developed and owned by the world-famous Wynn Resorts, the Encore casino is described by Wynn as 'the largest private single-phase construction project in the history of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.' In other words, this casino is absolutely huge. Once an Encore Boston sportsbook is up and running and when the state goes ahead and legalizes land-based sports betting, you can expect the venue to be the most popular gambling hotspot in the region.

Located on 33 acres of prime real estate, the Encore Boston Harbor – situated along the Mystic River – was a massive $2.5 billion project. In addition to its 27-floor bronze-colored glass tower (which is home to 671 luxury rooms), the venue has a huge gaming floor with all the standard amusements, a five-star spa facility, a ballroom, a theater, and more. Wynn claims that the deluxe rooms at the hotel offer the 'largest standard hotel room size in Boston.'

Of course, guests to the Encore will be able to leave the property and enjoy all the iconic and cultural experiences that Boston proper has to offer. The Encore Boston Harbor is making its way to becoming an extremely popular tourist spot and not just for gamblers. You'll be able to take in a Sox game, watch the Pats play, shop at high-end boutiques, check out some concerts, go whale watching, walk the deck of the USS Constitution, and indulge your senses at a variety of art and history museums, famous local bars, and renowned eateries. Just remember to park the car in Harvard Yard.

• Plainridge Park Casino
• Address: 301 Washington St. Plainville, MA 02762
• Phone: 857-770-7890

The Plainridge Park sportsbook will most likely be up and running in Plainville, MA, sometime next year. Located at the Plainridge Park Casino – a local harness racing track and slot parlor venue – the Plainridge sportsbook will round out the experience offered by the track facility, which is currently fairly limited (as there are no table games). Sports betting coming to Plainridge Park would be somewhat ironic historically, as the site where the track sits used to be Foxboro Park, which was owned by Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

While a sportsbook at Plainridge Park will go a long way towards reestablishing the place in the eyes of Boston gamblers, the racino is located some 35 miles southwest of Boston and it will have an uphill battle if legislation isn't also passed that allows it to offer table games and card games on the premises. Although horse races will help keep bettors entertained, the racino can benefit from having other forms of gambling allowed. Lawmakers are looking to expand gambling privileges to the state and there are several bills that are on the path to legalize sports betting. So the Plainridge Park Casino's future is looking bright.

Visitors to Plainville can make the trip to Boston and there is also plenty to do outside of the racino in Plainville itself. Of course, there's the WWI Memorial Park and Zoo, which is not be missed, but there are also plenty of antique markets, and the Heather Hill Country Club is just the spot to enjoy a round of golf along with the great drink menu.

• Mohegan Sun Casino
• Address: 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd. Uncasville, CT 06382
• Phone: 888-226-7711

Boston, located just 105 miles northeast of the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, is home to many regulars of this large casino venue one state over. And 'large' is an understatement. In fact, the Mohegan Sun – owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority – is one of the biggest, most luxurious casino-hotels in the entire world. In addition to its huge 364,000 square feet of gaming space, replete with 6500 slot machines, nearly 400 table games, and a massive poker room, visitors to the Mohegan Sun will be thrilled and awed by the many decorative embellishments on the site, like the planetarium-style ceiling in the Casino of the Sky and the amazing 'Taughannick Falls' indoor waterfall that punctuates the casino's excellent main bar.

Other amenities and activities include on-site spas, pools, Jacuzzis, and more, and those who wish to take in the natural surroundings can plan any number of outdoor sojourns through the Mohegan Sun's booking services. Hopefully, once the Mohegan Sun sportsbook goes live in CT, the casino operators will make sports betting available via mobile, so guests at the property can take in all the outdoors activities they want without ever missing a minute of sports wagering action. The Mohegan Sun Casino has something for everyone, so Boston should consider making a day trip and check out what this casino has to offer them.

• Foxwoods Resort Casino
• Address: 350 Trolley Line Blvd Mashantucket, CT 06338
• Phone: 860-312-3000

The Foxwoods Resort Casino, located a stone's throw from the Mohegan Sun. The casino is not only the largest casino-hotel in CT, but it is also actually the largest casino in America and the third largest casino in the entire world. With over 2200 hotel rooms and suites and 344,000 square feet of gaming space, including 5000 slot machines and 250 different table games, this all-inclusive resort is not to be missed. And Boston residents know this, as over 100,000 people from Massachusetts make the 100-mile trip south in Connecticut to stay at the Foxwoods each year. Naturally, once the Foxwoods sportsbook is opened to the public, the venue will be even more popular than ever before. Sports fans from Boston and all over the surrounding states will flock to the Foxwoods Resort Casino to see how they provide sports betting for visitors.

Of course, there is way more to do at the Foxwoods than just gamble on casino games and sporting events. Visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of fine-dining experiences, theater shows, and concerts, and folks who wish to explore the wonders of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe can go through several museums and guided tours of the natural world just outside the casino's doors. There's the Lake of Isles golf course, there's a zip-lining adventure, there are simulated race courses, and there are even bowling alleys and arcades to enjoy. All of these amenities make Foxwoods a great destination for adults and kids of all ages.

Massachusetts may not only legalize sports gambling. The state may eventually become a new hub for online sports wagering.

In January of 2019, Gov. Charlie Baker proposed a bill that would make Massachusetts the second state in the nation (following the lead of online sports betting in Tennessee) to allow online sports wagering that is unaffiliated with land-based casinos.

What MA sports betting could look like

Unlike most bills legalizing sports gambling, Baker's proposal would ban any bets on NCAA sporting events. Currently, New Jersey is the only state that restricts betting on NCAA events, and that is only on teams from the state or events taking place within its borders.

Baker's bill would allow residents anywhere in the state to bet from their smartphones or to place live wagers at recently-opened casino MGM-Springfield. The massive Encore-Boston Harbor is expected to open just outside of downtown Boston in Everett in June of 2019, pending approval by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC).

The proposal would tax online wagers at a rate of 12.5 percent, whereas bets at live sportsbooks would be taxed at a rate of 10 percent. It is the fifth bill proposed by legislators in the state and one of three bills proposed in January, giving the House options to choose from if it decides to move towards legalized sports betting.

While there is pressure from Massachusetts residents and lobbyists to pass this legislation and compete with the gambling market in neighboring states Rhode Island and Connecticut, the groundbreaking nature of Baker's proposal is causing some delays.

What still needs to happen?

Can You Bet On Sports In Massachusetts

In April of 2019, the Massachusetts House of Representatives delayed Baker's bill (which included an overall proposal on the state's budget for the upcoming fiscal year), signaling a more deliberative approach towards the issues surrounding sports gambling.

The MGC is also investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against Wynn Resorts founder Steve Wynn that could delay the opening of the Encore-Boston Harbor Casino. The commission fined Wynn Resorts $35 million in April for the company's role in covering up those accusations.

Officials of the Massachusetts State Lottery, which is currently only an in-person business, assert that the Lottery should also be allowed to accept online wagers if the bill is proposed. This adds a wrinkle that the House will have to consider.

There are powerful groups within the Bay State that are lobbying for the passage of this law, including Boston-based DraftKings. The owner of the largest Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platform and online sportsbook, DraftKings has a vested interest in legalizing an industry that is currently thriving through illegal avenues.

Massachusetts legislators took a similarly slow approach in 2016 when deliberating on the legality of DFS.

Projected Massachusetts sports betting launch date

Sportsbook In Massachusetts

While sports betting bills will be up for discussion during the legislative session in May, the House appears to be in no rush to make a decision. The House has until November of 2019 to pass any of the three proposals into law. If legislators decide to ratify Baker's bill, there could be legal online sports betting available in Massachusetts sometime in 2020.