MA Sports Betting: Best Massachusetts Sports Betting Sites in 2023

Yes. MA sports betting sites are live and has been one of the legal sports betting states since March 10, 2023. Six Massachusetts sports betting sites/apps launched that day; we’ve seen more since then.

The March 10, 2023, date was announced on February 9, 2023. The agreement on the bill came on August 1, 2022, after numerous setbacks for years on end.

The bill enables 15 licenses and a 20% tax rate on gross revenue. The bill was signed by Governor Charlie Baker less than two weeks after the August 1 approval.

So, despite the hurdles, this Commonwealth has eight active Massachusetts sportsbooks.

Legal sports betting in Massachusetts has brought eight sites to the Commonwealth, and another is coming. 

Today, more than half of the United States, including Massachusetts, has legal mobile sports betting or is pending launch. One of the first states to launch was New Jersey back in 2018, and today states like Kentucky, North Carolina, Vermont, and more are pending.

Within these states, including Massachusetts, there are dozens of sports betting sites, though not all are available in Massachusetts. 

Below, we’ll list each available site and briefly describe them. 

• BetMGM: The go-to site for all things parlay sports betting. 
• Caesars: The best Massachusetts sports betting site for daily odds boosts. 
• ESPN BET: Newest kid on the block
• FanDuel: The premier Massachusetts online sports betting site for new players. 
• DraftKings: Best prop sport betting MA has to offer. 
• WynnBET: Closed up shop in multiple states but has Encore retail site in-state. 
• Betr: Unique platform that offers fantasy sports and plenty of micro-betting. 
• Fanatics: Trusted brand that all sports fans are familiar with. 

Coming Soon

• Bally Bet: Coming soon.
• Betway: Planning for early 2024 launch. 

Ranking legal sports betting sites in Massachusetts is a multi-step process that aims to cover the full scope of each site. These rankings strive to recommend sites that provide value and transparency and have resources available to assist you. 

Below, we’ll go over the various attributes we look for. 

• Bonuses and Promotions: Besides the value they bring, we research the terms and conditions to ensure you’re receiving one that doesn’t have too many parameters on them so you can fully embrace what it offers. 
• Customer Support: Not only do we look for sites that offer FAQ, live chat, email, and phone support, but we review the FAQ to see how much content is packed into there to see how many issues players can solve themselves. Also, we engage with the live chat to see how fast the response time is and how knowledgeable they are. 
• Banking Options: This one is simple—the better options. We consider how long it takes to receive your funds for withdrawals, too. 
• Sports Betting Markets: While most online sportsbooks in MA will have the typical sports betting markets, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, we look for sites that offer other niche markets that could attract a wider base of bettors. Additionally, we look for sites that provide more ways to bet, such as player prop bets and other exclusive markets that enhance the experience.

Massachusetts has had legal sports betting since March 2023, but that doesn’t stop the news surrounding this new market. 

Below, we’ll offer a timeline of the latest news in the state regarding sports betting.

📰 October 20, 2023: The Massachusetts Gaming Commission publically criticizes Penn Entertainment for a lack of communication over issues with Barstool and the upcoming launch of ESPN Bet.

📰 August 22, 2023: Regulators in the state ruled that Barstool Sportsbook won’t need to reapply for a sports betting license when it rebrands to ESPN. 

📰 August 16, 2023: The full version of Fanatics became available after being in beta version.

📰 August 15, 2023: The state has reached over $2 billion in total handle since sports betting launched in March. 

📰 August 10, 2023: ESPN plans to rebrand Barstool to ESPN Bet by November. 

📰 August 9, 2023: Fanatics Sportsbook launches. 

📰 July 26, 2023: Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino received fines for allowing bettors to wager on MA college teams, not in a tournament. 

📰 July 25, 2023: The Massachusetts Gaming Commission debates how to fine DraftKings for their role in the unauthorized UTR Pro Tennis Tour. 

📰 July 17, 2023: The handle fell to $323.5 million in June, a nearly 30% drop from May. 

📰 May 25, 2023: Fanatics announces its launching in the state. 

📰 March 10, 2023: Sports betting launches.

While we finally have sports betting in Massachusetts as of March 10, 2023, the road to get here was long and arduous.

Below, we’ll summarize how we got to this point.

• March 10, 2023: Sports betting launches.
• January 31, 2023: The first in-person bets are in the state.
• August 10, 2023: Governor Charlie Baker signs H5164 into law.
• August 1, 2022: Legislators agree on the sports betting bill.
• 2021: More than 20 sports betting bills were filed in the House and Senate this year.
• 2020: There was an effort to work it into an economic developmental bill with less than two weeks left in the session. The House supported it, but the Senate didn’t.
• 2019: Multiple bills are submitted, but none make any headway into realistically passing.

We know that sports betting is available in Massachusetts, but what are some of the intricacies of the bill? 

• Online sports betting tax is 20% for online sites and 15% for retail outlets.
• The law also allows for 15 licenses to be distributed. There are currently nine available.
• You cannot bet on in-state college teams unless they’re in a tournament.
• All logos for sports betting must have “21 and over” on them.
• Credit card deposits are prohibited.
• No advertising ban.
• Operators cannot deduct promotional credits from taxable income.
• Casinos and racetracks can receive licenses.

In Massachusetts, all sports betting is overseen by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. On their website, you can learn about employee licensing, vendor licensing, horse racing, sports wagering, revenue, and more.

Under sports betting, there’s plenty of content related to a list of the approved licensees, events, regulations, legislative reports, rulemaking, and more.

If you’re having an issue with an online sportsbook, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is the governing body in the state you’ll want to contact if there are no other solutions with the site you’re playing at.

In Massachusetts, online sports betting platforms are taxed at a 20% rate on their gross revenue, which is quite fair compared to other states.

Since online sports betting became legal on March 10, 2023, DraftKings has reigned supreme as the leader in terms of handle, followed by FanDuel, then BetMGM. DraftKings Sportsbook has cleared at least $144 million on handles each month. The lowest figure came in July 2023, which was $144.87 million, which resulted in $2.9 million in taxes.

In July 2023 (our most recent data), the least successful sports betting outlet was Betr, which generated just $155,582 and $10,983 in revenue.

In Massachusetts, you’ll find eight sports betting platforms. All eight offer a mobile app. These sites include Barstool, BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, DraftKings, WynnBET, Betr, and Fanatics. 

The mobile apps are available for both iOS and Android users. 

How Do I Use An MA Sportsbook Mobile App?

To use a sportsbook mobile app, you’ll need to download it onto your device. Below, we’ll walk through how to do that step-by-step. 

1. Visit the Apple App or Google Play Store.
2. Search for the sportsbook mobile app. 
3. Download it.
4. Launch the app. 
5. Create an account. 
6. Make a deposit.
7. Start wagering. 

Sign Up

The signup process is more or less the same as all online sportsbooks. After downloading and opening the mobile app, you’ll find a link in the upper right to register. Here, you’ll need to provide personal information such as your name, address, date of birth, the last four digits of your social security number, and more. The process takes just a few minutes to complete, regardless of where you play.

Deposit 

After creating your account, you’ll then need to start depositing. You’ll typically be able to find a link to this in the upper right after you log in. On this page, you select the method you want to use and the amount. 

Betting

With funds loaded into your account, it’s time to bet. Head back to the homepage, locate the sport you want to bet on and choose which game and contest. After selecting something, add it to your betslip, input the amount you wish to wager, and confirm.

You’ll have ample sports and leagues in Massachusetts you can wager on. Below, we’ll aim to cover as many of them as possible. Remember, more is always getting added based on the time of year.

Basketball

NBA

The NBA is one of the most popular sports in the United States. It has 82 games in the regular season and multiple rounds in the playoffs leading up to the NBA Finals. 

NCAA Basketball

There are more than 30 games during the regular season, but the betting for college basketball heats up in March for March Madness.

March Madness

March Madness is a 64-team single-elimination tournament that occurs shortly after the Super Bowl and is one of the most wagered-on events in the country.

Football

NFL

The NFL is easily the most popular sport to bet on, starting with postseason games in August through the Super Bowl in February. There are 17 regular season games.

NCAA Football

College football begins around the time of the NFL and features more than a dozen total games, leading up to the College Football Playoff and national championship game.

Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is the final game of the NFL season. It sees around 100 million viewers, making it a highly impactful betting event.

Baseball

MLB

The MLB is another popular sport with 162 games during the regular season and multiple postseason rounds leading to the World Series.

Hockey

NHL

One of the most physical sports, the NHL rounds out the “big four” sports in the United States. The Stanley Cup Finals are a massive betting event. 

Other Sports:

Soccer

Worldwide, soccer is the most popular sport. You can wager on numerous leagues and countries worldwide. 

Boxing

Thanks to the rise of Jake Paul in the sport, boxing has become more popular for casual bettors. 

Golf Betting

With numerous yearly tournaments, bettors can bet on the Masters, US Open, and other important PGA events.

NASCAR

Offering events most weekends, you can bet on automobile racing, including the Dayonta 500, which is considered the NASCAR Super Bowl. 

MMA

Whether you want to bet on UFC or Bellator, you can find events each weekend to bet on involving high-profile fighters. 

Tennis

Like golf, there are numerous significant events each year that feature top talent across the world. 

Horse Race Betting

This must be done at select simulcast venues, but you can bet on horse races worldwide.

Professional Sports Teams in Massachusetts

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox won their first World Series in 2004 after not winning one since 1918. Since 2004, they’ve won four World Series in 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018. 
League: MLB
Founded: 1901
Stadium: Fenway Park
Location: Boston, MA
Sportsbook partners: BetMGM 

Boston Bruins

The Bruins are considered one of the better teams in the NHL, but are coming off a 2022-23 season in which they had the best regular season record, but lost before the Stanley Cup Finals. 
League: NHL
Founded: 1924
Stadium: TD Garden
Location: Boston, MA
Sportsbook partners: FanDuel

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2022-23 season, but lost to the Miami Heat in seven games. They head into the 2023-24 season as one of the favorites with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. 
League: NBA
Founded: 1946
Stadium: TD Garden
Location: Boston, MA 
Sportsbook partners: N/A

New England Patriots

From 2000 to 2020, the Patriots were the most dominant force in the NFL thanks to quarterback Tom Brady. Over that span, the Patriot won six Super Bowls and won nearly double-digit AFC Conference titles. 
League: NFL
Founded: 1959
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Location: Foxborough, MA
Sportsbook partners: N/A 

New England Revolution

The 2023 season is in progress and the Revolution have 43 points at the time of this writing, making them the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. In 2022, they finished 10th in the conference with just 42 points. 
League: MLS
Founded: 1995
Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Location: Foxborough, MA
Sportsbook partners: N/A 

College Sports Teams in Massachusetts

Betting on teams in Massachusetts isn’t allowed unless they’re involve in a tournament. Still, we’ll list the college teams you can find in the state. 

• Boston College
• UMass
• Boston University
• Northeastern University
• Holy Cross
• Merrimack College

College Sports Betting in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, college sports betting is legal, but there is a slight wrinkle. Here, the law prohibits wagering on college teams in the state unless they’re in a tournament. For example, you could wager if UMass were part of March Madness. Still, you can bet on any other team across the country.

The three retail sports betting outlets received fines earlier this year for allowing bettors to wager on in-state teams.

So, college sports betting is available, but not on in-state teams in most situations.

Prohibited Sports Betting in Massachusetts

There aren’t any sports that you’re prohibited from betting on. It boils down to what sports are available in each sportsbook. That said, markets like politics aren’t available to be wagered on.

In Massachusetts, there are three retail betting locations. 

• MGM Springfield: Opening in August 2018, MGM Springfield offers a casino and resorts close to the Connecticut border. This was the site of the first-ever in-person sports bets on January 31, 2023, when former Bruins player Ray Bourque placed the wager.
• Encore Boston Harbor: Located near Everett, MA, Encore is a luxury resort with endless amenities and retail shops. Here, there are more than 70 televisions and a 123-foot-long video wall for those that decide to stay.
• Plainridge Park Casino: This slot parlor opened in 2015 and is owned by Penn National Gaming. Here, you’ll also find hardness racing, the only site in the state that offers it. To kick off the retail betting here, former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich wagered $50 on the Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.

Massachusetts is located in New England, where a cluster of states have slowly started legalizing sports betting. Also, other states might not be direct neighbors but are close enough to be within a few hours.

Below, we’ll compare MA sports betting to these other states.

Connecticut Sports Betting

Sports betting has been legal in  CT since October 19, 2021, but there are just two legal platforms in the state, including DraftKings and FanDuel. The Connecticut Lottery used to be partnered with PlaySugarHouse, but it no longer is. In addition to the Lottery, the Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Tribe are also allowed to partner with a site.

Maine Sports Betting

Sports betting law became active in Maine in August 2022, but it has yet to launch in the state. Governor Janet Mills signed the law in May 2022. Based on the law, up to four online sites and ten retail locations will be available. Like Connecticut, the federally recognized tribes in the state will be able to offer online sites. It’s looking like an early 2024 launch.

Rhode Island Sports Betting

Sports betting is available in Rhode Island, but the only place you can bet is Sportsbook Rhode Island. This sportsbook was brought to us by the state lottery, which collaborated with IGT and William Hill. The site is relatively generic compared to the other big-name sites, but we could see a rebrand to Caesars. Two retail sites in the state belong to Bally’s. They began offering sports betting in 2018.

Vermont Sports Betting

Online sports betting is legal in Vermont as of June 14, 2023, but no online sites have launched. The hope was for it to be available before the 2023-24 NFL playoffs, which is still doable as of August 2023. The state began hearing pitches for potential sites to launch in late July. There doesn’t appear to be a hard number on the number of online sites, but each site will need to pay $500,000 for a license.

New Hampshire Sports Betting

New Hampshire also has legal online sports betting and has since 2019. However, the state has a monopoly agreement with DraftKings that will last a few more years. There are three retail locations in the state: Dover, Manchester, and Seabrook. The tax rate on sports betting in The Granite State is 51%, far higher than Massachusetts (20%) and Connecticut (13.75%).

NY Sports Betting

Before New York launched legal online sports betting in January 2022, everyone knew it would be a massive success, and it has been. It had a 10-month streak of handles north of $1 billion, and in July 2023, it fell to $962.1 million, ending that streak. There are countless online platforms, and retail betting is also available. The only states that could contend with New York, numbers-wise, would be Texas and California, which aren’t legal yet.

As of September 2023, online casinos aren’t legal in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. There are multiple retail casinos to play at, but no legislation has passed that would allow sites to operate online casinos in MA. This could change in the future but it’s not the case yet.