Massachusetts Retail Sports Betting Launch Goes Smoothly, Per Early Reports
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The state of Massachusetts is looking to have a major sports betting market. On January 31st, 2023, retail sportsbooks went live in the state, officially bringing legal sports betting to anyone 21 years of age or older.
Plus, around the start of the March Madness tournament, the state is expected to roll out online sports betting, welcoming major sports betting operators like DraftKings Sportsbook and Caesars Sportsbook. While we won’t know all the numbers until later on, it appears as though the rollout of physical sportsbooks has been majorly successful. Let’s look at some of the details around the Massachusetts sports betting launch.
Retail Sportsbooks See Success In Massachusetts
There are now three retail sportsbooks that have opened their doors in the Bay State. An in-person BetMGM Sportsbook launched at MGM Springfield, bringing one of the top names in sports betting to the casino. Encore Boston Harbor has also opened up a WynnBET Sportsbook for users to place bets at.
Additionally, Plainridge Park Casino recently launched a Barstool Sportsbook. According to Casino.org, the opening of these sportsbooks went off without a hitch. According to Massachusetts Gaming Commission Executive Director Karen Wells, no issues have been reported with the new brick-and-mortar sportsbooks yet.
The retail betting launch was highlighted by some events at the different casinos. For example, the opening of the Encore Boston Harbor WynnBET Sportsbook featured former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman placing a $11,000 wager on the Boston Celtics to win the NBA Championship. As the odds were +360 at the time he placed the bet, Edelman stands to make $39,600 if the Celtics win the title.
The Barstool Sportsbook at Plainridge Park Casino, on the other hand, saw its first bet come in from former Patriots linebacker Rob Nicovich, who bet on the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup with +500 odds. Meanwhile, former Bruins star Ray Borque and Mayor Domenic Sarno placed the first wagers at the BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Springfield. However, specific details on their wagers have not been released at this time.
🗣️ HELLO MASSACHUSETTS!
We had an incredible time opening the BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge at @MGMSpringfield this week 🦁
Check it out 👀👇 pic.twitter.com/4P9ZGtco3c
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) February 2, 2023
Massachusetts Sports Betting Market Could Be Massive
Considering that both retail and online Massachusetts sports betting are expected to be available by March, the state should see some big bets come in throughout 2023. The population of the state is nearly 7 million, with no shortage of dedicated sports fans.
The area is home to some major teams, such as the Boston Bruins, who currently lead the NHL with 83 points heading into the All-Star break. The Boston Celtics have been wildly successful as well, and currently sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 37-15 record. The New England Patriots narrowly missed out on the postseason this year, although the team is looking forward to next year after the addition of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
Although the Boston Red Sox were last in the competitive AL East division in 2022, fans are hopeful for the future. Now that legal sports betting in Massachusetts is a reality, expect plenty of action on all these teams.
