Massachusetts To Launch Sports Betting January 31 at 10 a.m.

The time has finally come! After years on the sidelines, Massachusetts sports betting is set to launch on Tuesday, January 31 at 10 a.m. At that time, sports betting in Massachusetts will be fully legal at three retail casinos in the state: MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor, and Plainridge Park Casino.

With the January 31 launch date, the start of retail sports betting in Massachusetts comes right before the biggest betting event of the year: the Super Bowl. Super Bowl LVII takes place on Sunday, February 12.

Massachusetts Retail Sports Betting All Set

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has been tentatively eyeing the last day of January as a potential start date for months. Commissioners were finally able to hash out the final details of an exact launch time on Friday.

“It’s helpful to not do a start time at a really busy time, not at, you know 6 or 7 p.m., because we want to make sure the flow of people coming in is not too overwhelming at the beginning for public safety reasons,” Gaming Commission Executive Director Karen Wells said of her recommendation for 10 a.m.

Under the MA sports betting law, retail casinos can partner with up to two online sports betting operators. As of now, casino sports betting partners include:

• Encore Boston Harbor: WynnBET and Caesars Sportsbook
• MGM Springfield: BetMGM Sportsbook
• Plainridge Park Casino: Penn Sports Interactive (Barstool Sportsbook) and BetFanatics.

Bay State gamblers will be able to place a variety of different bets on professional and college sports. There are seemingly endless wager options, ranging from the popular moneyline, spread and total (over/under) bets, to more niche categories like player props and parlays.

It is worth noting that the state’s sports betting law excludes wagers for Massachusetts colleges, unless a team is in a tournament of four or more teams.

Related news: Gambling Revenue At Massachusetts Casinos Rises In 2022, Year Ends With Gains

Massachusetts Mobile Sports Betting On The Way

Following the launch of retail betting, MA mobile betting apps are expected to launch in late February or early March, hopefully in time for March Madness.

The MGC has approved MA online sports betting licenses for: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, PointsBet, Bally Bet, Betr, BetFanatics, Barstool Sportsbook, Betway, and WynnBET. Other than Betway, all of those apps expect to be up and running whenever online sportsbooks are given the green light to launch in the state.

In addition to these operators, there is a chance that BetRivers enters the Massachusetts sports betting market. The Rush Street Interactive (RSI) sportsbook was a noticeable absence from the list of companies in the first wave of applications.

An RSI spokesperson told Play Massachusetts in early January that they “will not be commenting regarding the Massachusetts market at this time.”  

Only time will tell. Massachusetts law allows for up to 15 online sports betting licenses. At this time, only 11 have been claimed. Once the mobile industry is live, new users can claim special welcome bonuses from various sportsbooks.

Also read: Ranking The 11 Online Sportsbook Apps Coming To Massachusetts