Ranking My Live Betting Experience At Massachusetts Sportsbook Apps

Approximately one week prior to the commencement of March Madness, six mobile sports betting apps were launched in Massachusetts.

All of these brands are in fierce competition to attract bettors who are interested in the rapidly expanding sports gambling market of live betting.

I decided to test the performance of all six sports betting apps available in Massachusetts during the initial mobile launch by placing live March Madness bets. Here is what I encountered during this experiment.

Live betting in Massachusetts

There are numerous options for live betting in Massachusetts, with DraftKings and FanDuel providing exceptional experiences based on my personal encounters. Following closely behind are Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, and WynnBET.

Here are my rankings:

1. DraftKings Sportsbook
2. FanDuel
3. Barstool Sportsbook
4. BetMGM
5. Caesars Sportsbook
6. WynnBET

I placed a total of $60 in bets among the six books and unfortunately incurred a loss of $5.62. This outcome clearly demonstrates that I am not skilled in sports betting. However, I don’t feel compelled to seek reimbursement.

My encounter with these apps made it clear to me why DraftKings and FanDuel dominate the legal sportsbook market in the US. Their live odds updates and game trackers are robust, while their fundamental features are well-implemented.

The bet slips functioned effectively, and there were no technical issues in the live betting sections during ongoing bets. These factors emerged as the key distinguishing features separating the top sportsbook brands from the rest.

DraftKings Massachusetts live betting

Out of all the sportsbooks mentioned on the list, only DraftKings Massachusetts had funds already deposited by me. I managed to convert a $5 bonus bet into a victory worth $18.50 by betting on the Chiefs after the Eagles scored a touchdown and the line reacted excessively.

For my second attempt, I decided to place a $10 wager on the Baylor versus University of California-Santa Barbara college basketball game. As the game commenced, I observed the moneyline odds shift from approximately -320 to -305. Since it was still early in the match and neither team had established a significant lead, I chose not to wait for the odds to potentially increase to -350s or -400s.

The game tracker lagged just a little behind the broadcast, providing DraftKings with enough time to respond to customers’ cash movements. However, it remained close enough that I could have stayed informed by watching the game tracker in the car.

Although my odds improved slightly, I cannot claim to be particularly courageous. My winnings only amounted to a mere $3.27.

FanDuel Massachusetts live betting

My first encounter with depositing at the sportsbook was through FanDuel Massachusetts. Prior to this, I had spoken with various payment providers and was well aware of the inconvenience associated with sportsbook deposits and withdrawals, which were often considered the most frustrating aspect of the betting journey for many bettors.

I understand the reason behind it. When attempting to deposit $10 using Apple Pay, it was unsuccessful. So, I decided to opt for a bank transfer instead and accessed my bank account through the app. However, even after supposedly completing the $10 deposit, I was left waiting on the processing screen. Assuming I would have to make another attempt, I exited the screen.

On the contrary, the deposit was successfully made, albeit for $100 instead of $10. FanDuel’s standard deposit amount is $100, and this could potentially contribute to its status as the most lucrative book brand among Massachusetts sportsbook applications.

Despite my belief that only $10 of the dollars belonged to me, I decided to place a $10 wager on the Marquette versus Vermont game. Initially, the moneyline odds were approximately -600, fluctuating between -580 and -620. As Marquette started to gain the upper hand, I became anxious and hastily placed my bet at -620.

Once more, I lacked courage, but I ended up with an additional $1.61.

The game tracker of FanDuel appeared to be the most seamless. The animations were fluid, and there was minimal delay in processing my live bet.

In general, apart from a problematic deposit experience, FanDuel does not have any notable functional problems. Having placed bets with four other bookmakers, I realized how much I missed the smoothness provided by FanDuel.

BetMGM Massachusetts live betting

The live betting experience on the BetMGM Massachusetts app was satisfactory. This time, my $10 deposit via Apple Pay went through successfully, which raised my expectations for this platform.

While attempting to place my bet on the Notre Dame-Utah women’s game, I noticed unexpected technical issues on DraftKings and FanDuel that I was not prepared to encounter.

The odds were being updated as usual, but the difference between Notre Dame and Utah widened significantly, causing the moneyline betting option to be removed. The entire betting line briefly became unavailable as BetMGM recalculated the odds.

I decided to take a chance and bet on the Under 129.5, even though it seemed unlikely due to one team’s dominance. As the odds shifted from -140 to -120, I took the opportunity and placed my bet.

Things took an odd turn when I placed my $10 bet and the app approved it, only to display revised odds of -105 on the bet slip. I found this quite peculiar as I was under the impression that I had secured the original odds of -120.

Upon refreshing the screen, I discovered that I had mistakenly set it to -120. The real-time updates were still being displayed on the incorrect screen. This incident made me realize the reason behind DraftKings and FanDuel’s dominance in the market within their respective states.

I was starting to realize that I had a knack for being awful at over/under betting. The game ended with a final score of 86-52, totaling 138 points. The under 129.5 was nowhere near accurate.

Barstool Sportsbook live betting

I didn’t encounter any significant problems with Barstool Sportsbook Massachusetts. Once again, I opted for a women’s college basketball matchup, and once again, the disparity in odds between the two teams made moneyline betting impractical. It was evident that Ohio State would triumph over James Madison.

On this occasion, I decided to experiment with a different point total wager. Opting for the Under 140.5 seemed more favorable compared to the Under 144 or 145, with a difference of approximately 30 cents. Initially, I was considering placing the bet at +140 odds, but the odds shifted, and I settled for +135 instead.

While I didn’t encounter any significant problems, it is widely known that Barstool Sportsbook has a reputation for imposing restrictions on the accounts of customers who consistently win.

So, you’re willing to wager a whopping $4k on your own book, while I can only put down a measly $12. Interesting tale, my friend. pic.twitter.com/L0ABbbmib4

On March 18, 2023, Aaron Roland tweeted under the handle @ARo_17.

These negative customer experiences undermine an otherwise competitive product, Barstool Sportsbook.

The game ended with a final score of 80-66, resulting in a total of 146 points. Although I was closer to the actual outcome compared to my BetMGM wager, I was also hesitant to engage in over/under betting.

My winning and lucky streaks had come to an end.

Caesars Sportsbook & WynnBET live betting

I encountered difficulties with both Caesars Sportsbook and WynnBET.

To confirm my identity, I was required to submit my driver’s license on both platforms. Typically, this is a standard procedure for sportsbooks that need to authenticate their users’ identities. However, it posed no problem for me. Since I have relocated from Texas to Denver and changed apartments since registering on both sites, my driver’s license bears my previous address.

The surprising moment arrived when I discovered the duration it took. On Saturday morning, I submitted my driver’s license and utility bill to WynnBET, and also my driver’s license to Caesars. WynnBET verified my identity on Tuesday afternoon. However, when I contacted Caesars on Friday, they requested that I provide a utility bill as well.

Buyers should be cautious: While it is acceptable to verify your identity, it is advisable to directly contact the customer support team rather than relying on a book to verify you.

After finally being able to make deposits, I proceeded to place my final two bets.

Caesars Sportsbook

The mobile app provided by Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts falls short when it comes to live betting. While enjoying an amber ale at a brewery, I witnessed Gonzaga’s defeat against UConn in the company of my friends. Initially, the odds on Gonzaga stood at approximately +145, but I seized the opportunity to place a bet when the odds shifted to +165.

Once I double-checked my odds and made my bet, they unexpectedly locked in at +185 instead. This pleasant surprise made me ponder how many times bettors had been caught off guard by the opposite movement.

Caesars’ game tracker experienced a significant delay as well. At the beginning of the game, it displayed a score of 5-4 when it was actually 9-4. It is common for all sportsbooks’ game trackers to lag behind the broadcast, but the lag in Caesars’ app seemed to be longer compared to other applications.

I had no idea Gonzaga would suffer such a heavy loss, let alone to this extent. My attempt to make money through moneyline betting ended up being unsuccessful once again, resulting in a loss of another $10.

WynnBET

After initiating live betting on WynnBET Massachusetts, I accessed my bank account to retrieve the necessary account and routing numbers for the transfer. Upon entering the numbers and pressing enter, there was no response or action.

I received a notification indicating that my transaction was currently being processed. To confirm the success of my deposit, I was advised to visit the transactions screen.

My transaction was not successful during my second or third attempt at a bank transfer. Additionally, my debit card was rejected.

After completing the registration process for the VIP Preferred program, I provided my bank and driver’s license information. My payment of $10 was successfully processed, and I proceeded to explore the various betting options that were available.

I found myself at a sports bar alongside my fiancé, immersed in the intense Creighton vs San Diego State game. Despite being considered the underdog, SDSU and Creighton were constantly exchanging points, with neither team gaining a significant lead. As I closely monitored the odds, I witnessed SDSU’s chances rise from +175 to +185, until finally receiving a sudden last-minute boost to +195. Without hesitation, I seized the opportunity.

Not long after, Creighton extended their lead, leading me to believe I had lost an additional $10. Much to my astonishment, when I later glanced at my phone that afternoon, I discovered that San Diego State had triumphed by a mere point. To my delight, there was an additional $19.50 credited to another sportsbook account.

Lessons from live betting

Entering this project, I possessed a strong sense of assurance. Even though my victory in the DraftKings Super Bowl was modest, it led me to believe that I could effectively handle a bankroll across six different sportsbooks.

On the contrary, many bettors learned a tough lesson through firsthand experience: Randomness often occurs in streaks. While flipping a coin 1,000 times should theoretically yield about 500 heads and 500 tails, there will inevitably be instances where extended sequences of either outcome appear to defy mere chance.

The initial three victories I achieved were fortuitous occurrences where the games unfolded favorably. Engaging in live betting enhanced my potential earnings to some extent, although there were instances when the odds turned against me instead.

Massachusetts sports bettors will definitely appreciate live betting once they overcome the cumbersome deposit procedures. This article introduced me to James Madison, a team I was previously unaware of, and my wager on Barstool Sportsbook piqued my interest in them.

The best and worst aspect of live betting is its ease of use, as it can be done anywhere. On one hand, it is a fantastic way to engage an entire group of friends. On the other hand, it highlights the need for a universal self-exclusion list, which would be a remarkable responsible gambling advancement.

In relation to my personal experience, I have ranked all six sportsbook apps available in MA.

If you or someone dear to you is facing issues with gambling, reach out to a trained specialist for free, 24/7 assistance by calling 1-800-327-5050 or visiting www.mahelpline.org/problemgambling.