Massachusetts sports betting went live in three state-approved casinos Tuesday morning, marking a new era of entertainment.
Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor helped launch the new legal sports betting market after being previously approved as operators. Massachusetts is now the 33rd state with a legal and live sports betting ecosystem.
Gamblers are only able to submit wagers in casinos as it stands, although the state has plans for this to soon change.
Tuesday’s launch drew the attention and presence of several noteworthy figures, including a few with a direct interest in the area.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno placed the first legal bet in Massachusetts history right at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday. He bet on the nearby Philadelphia Eagles to knock off Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in next week’s Super Bowl LVII matchup.
“This has been a long time coming and brings yet another chapter of innovation to enhance the operations and development at MGM Springfield,” said Mayor Sarno. “As a strong proponent of MGM Springfield and their marquee Sports Betting Lounge, which will bring more jobs and economic spin-off effect to Springfield and the region, I am honored… to make the first sports wager in the state.”
Former New England Patriots wide receiver and Super Bowl LIII MVP, Julian Edelman, also showed up for the market launch. He dropped an $11,000 bet on the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics to win the NBA Finals, a feat they came close to but failed to accomplish last year when they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox, Johnny Damon, and ex-Patriot, three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer, Ty Law, were also on hand for the grand opening.
BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt spoke glowingly of the state’s decision to bring legal wagering into a state with a deep passion for high-level sports.
“The BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Springfield is a phenomenal sports betting hub designed for New England’s passionate sports fans,” said Greenblatt. “Today is a monumental step for BetMGM and sets the stage for us to deliver a best-in-class sports wagering experience across Massachusetts.”
Massachusetts legalized sports betting in the summer of 2022. Governor Charlie Baker was presented with a final bill in the closing hours of the summer legislative session, which he signed off on and set the ball in motion.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) spent the ensuing months establishing rules and regulations for the market and vetting license applications. After nearly half a year of getting everything in order, sportsbooks opened their doors for business.
State Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) said the grand opening marked the end of a long-lasting sports betting drought.
“After all these years, we finally have sports betting in Massachusetts!” said Gomez. “I was proud to sponsor legislation last session that sought to legalize sports wagering in the Commonwealth. To see that newly passed law in action today in my very own city is a humbling experience.”
Massachusetts bettors will be able to access betting lines from a variety of professional and amateur sports. The Super Bowl will be the biggest immediate draw, and March Madness is also expected to generate massive participation. The MGC hopes to have online sports betting in operation by the time the latter rolls around.
While sportsbooks can accept wagers on these main events, they cannot take bets on high school athletics or college events involving at least one in-state team, unless they are participating in a tournament with at least four teams.
College player props have also been outlawed. That comes after the University of Dayton men’s basketball head coach, Anthony Grant, said that his players had received more online hate ever since the Ohio sports betting market went live.
Early estimates suggest the state will procure $35-60 million, if not more, from sports betting tax revenues. This funding will be used to fund a variety of state-sponsored activities and investments.
Grant is a sports and sports betting journalist who prides himself in his up-to-the-minute reporting on the latest events in the industry. A member of Virginia Tech’s 2021 graduating class, he has quickly put together an impressive portfolio since moving to the professional world full-time. Grant’s favorite sports to cover are basketball and both types of football (American and soccer), and he is pushing written, audio, and video content. He has been employed by companies as highly regarded as Forbes and continues on a great trajectory in the industry. When he’s not on the clock, you can find Grant at the gym, looking for adventures, or hanging out with his family.
Affiliate Disclosure: We at USALegalBetting.com partner with trusted online casinos & sportsbooks to bring you the best offers and promotions. When you click on certain links and deposit through our site, USALegalBetting.com may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
