DraftKings Responsible For 56% Of Massachusetts’ $512.1 Million Sept. Sports Betting Handle

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has just released the September numbers for the state’s sports betting industry. The state saw plenty of encouraging numbers, such as a total handle of $512.1 million as well as $9.9 million in taxes collected.

DraftKings Online Sportsbook saw the majority of bets, with $290.1 million in wagers throughout the month. Retail sportsbooks still saw a fair share of bets, with approximately half of the handle coming from the WynnBET Sportsbook at Encore Boston Harbor.

Massachusetts Sports Betting Handle Hits $512.1 Million In September

The Bay State had a very successful September 2023. According to a recent press release from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, bettors in the area wagered a total of $512.1 million throughout the month of September.

This is the highest in the state since April of 2023, when the handle totaled $574.8 million. The $512.1 million comes from both mobile sportsbooks and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, with $499.7 million from online sports betting and $12.4 million from retail sports betting.

This high number makes sense timing wise, considering this was the first month of regular season football where sports bettors in the state could place wagers directly from their smart devices. Undoubtedly, many of the wagers came in on the New England Patriots, who opened their season against the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles.

There was also a loaded college betting slate throughout September, although it’s important to note that the state doesn’t allow any wagers on local college teams like the Boston College Eagles. Bets on local college teams are only permitted in Massachusetts if they’re playing in a tournament such as March Madness.

Total taxable gambling revenue was also significant in the state, with reported totals of $49.8 million. September’s total taxes from sports betting were $9.9 million. Massachusetts casinos also had a strong September, with $90.3 million in gross gaming revenue and $25.7 million in taxes accumulated.

DraftKings Responsible For Over 56% Of Online Handle

Leading the way in September was DraftKings Sportsbook, which has its headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. When it comes to mobile betting handle, DraftKings brought in $290.1 million, accounting for 56.6% of the total sports wagering handle and 58.5% of the overall handle.

FanDuel came in second with $121.9 million, followed by BetMGM Sportsbook with $33.5 million. Fanatics Sportsbook Online, the latest newcomer to the online sports betting market, brought in a total of $8.8 million. Barstool Sportsbook, which is preparing for a full rebrand to ESPN Bet next month, had a $12.9 million September handle.

Encore Boston Harbor Leads Retail Sportsbooks

Of the three retail sportsbooks that have opened in the state of Massachusetts, the WynnBET Sportsbook at Encore Boston Harbor was the most successful in terms of handle. Bettors wagered $6.2 million at the in-person sportsbook throughout September, accounting for roughly half of the state’s total retail handle.

Coming in second was the Barstool Sportsbook at Plainridge Park Casino, which brought in $4.6 million in bets. The BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Springfield came in third with a $1.5 million handle. In the future, more brick-and-mortar sportsbooks could potentially open up at local spots such as Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs.