Massachusetts is the latest state to launch sports betting, and legal wagering begins on Friday, March 10. Millions of sports bettors have had access to retail betting in the Bay State, but Friday marks the first time that bettors will be able to wager on their personal devices.
Legislation for Massachusetts has certainly been a whirlwind in the last few months. There was always going to be legal online sports betting in the state, but the marketing processes caused quite a stir between regulators and sportsbooks.
Initially, there were no third parties that were allowed to participate in licensed marketing agreements with the sportsbook operators. This would prevent operators from engaging in partnerships with media companies that wish to help push the sportsbooks to their audiences. These media companies are able to provide in-depth sports betting education on various operators.
Short-Term Waiver Allows For Third-Party Agreements
As of Thursday, March 2, a waiver was passed with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission that allows for these third-party agreements between media companies and sportsbooks until April 14th. On that date, there must be a long-term regulation proposed and passed, and it gives the Commission more time to gather information after launch.
With the help of these media companies, potential sports bettors are educated on the various betting sites that are available, how to sign up and download these sportsbook apps, and more. In addition, it allows users to be fully educated on the different types of Massachusetts sports betting promos available so that bettors can make informed decisions on how to take advantage of the welcome offers available.
Optimism Surrounds Massachusetts Online Betting Launch
In a recent interview, Max Bichsel, Vice President of Sports at Gambling.com Group, discussed the optimism with Massachusetts launching online sports betting.
“The impending launch of mobile sports betting in Massachusetts on March 10th is an exciting time for patrons, sportsbook operators, and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. After months of rigorous preparation, DraftKings, Wynn, Caesars, and others will finally be able to offer patrons a safe and regulated online experience to wager responsibly. With Bruins and Celtics poised to continue their regular season success coupled with the start of March Madness next week, Massachusetts is in prime position to have a successful launch.”
Bichsel also touched on the sports environment in Massachusetts, which is inarguably one of the most exciting in the country. The Boston Bruins have the best record in the NHL and are current favorites to win the Stanley Cup this summer. The Boston Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference and have some of the best odds to win the NBA Finals.
Add in one of the most popular sports betting events of the year in March Madness, and there could not be a better time for sports betting to launch in a new state. March Madness begins next week, and it coincides with St. Patrick’s Day, which is quite popular in the state of Massachusetts.
Betting Begins Friday, March 10
Sports bettors in Massachusetts can safely and legally wager on their phones and other mobile devices on Friday, March 10, and will certainly be excited to bet on March Madness, the Celtics, and the Bruins. Bettors are not limited to Massachusetts teams, however, as there are endless markets available for wagering across dozens of sports.
The sports betting operators that will be live are DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, WynnBET Sportsbook, and Barstool Sportsbook. Others are set to join the competitive market at some point, so there are plenty of options for bettors to choose from right away.