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Massachusetts Sports Betting & Promo Codes
Massachusetts
Legal Betting
After a long wait, online sports betting is finally legal in the state of Massachusetts. The public will be able to place their first legal online wagers on March 10, 2023. Sports bettors have been able to bet at retail locations since Jan. 31, 2023.
What To Know
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Must be 21+ to bet
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Strong new user sign-up bonuses for residents
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Online sports betting is legal
Available Sportsbooks
Today's Best Promos in Massachusetts
Additional Promos in Massachusetts
Upcoming Games To Bet On In Massachusetts
Sports Betting Education 101
Whether you’re new to betting, or if you’re a seasoned veteran, BetSided is the website for you.
Our goal is to make sports betting content for every person, from the first time bettor to someone who has been placing bets for decades.
For the newcomers, we have a sports betting education portion of the website, which breaks down key terminology and must-know basics such as:
…and lots more! Be sure to also check out our Youtube channel where our experts give out their best bets, along with their breakdowns, on an almost daily basis.
Massachusetts Betting Legalization Timeline
Sports betting became legal in Massachusetts on Aug. 1, 2022. The bill was initially passed by a vote of 156-3-1 in July 2021, but funding issues caused it to be delayed until Aug. 1, when it was officially pushed through just one day before the deadline.
Jan. 31, 2023 marked the beginning of retail sports betting. On that day, the public will be able to place sports bets in person at approved casino locations. Mobile betting officially launched in Massachusetts on March 10, 2023.
Tax Rates in Massachusetts
The tax rate for sportsbook operators in Massachusetts will be 15% for in-person, retail locations and 20% for mobile applications.
Futures Bets To Place In Massachusetts
Massachusetts State Sportsbooks
Two sportsbooks have already been approved for retail, in-person, betting due to being owned by parent companies that already have physical casino locations:
- WynnBET Sportsbook - Encore Boston Harbour
- BetMGM Sportsbook - MGM Springfield
The other sportsbooks that are legal in Massachusetts are:
- Barstool Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Caesar’s Sportsbook
- BallyBet
- Betway
Best Sports Betting App in Massachusetts
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM has one of the better user interfaces amongst the mobile apps. It also has a great rewards program that can be cashed in for a number of benefits, including some of those at MGM locations. Keep an eye on the odds boosts and promotions that they offer on a regular basis.
Grade: A
Caesars Sportsbook App
Caesars Sportsbook (previously known as William Hill), has some of the best bonus offers on the market. It has a good variety of betting options and is known for partnering with celebrities to get its name and odds out to the market.
Grade: A
DraftKings Sportsbook App
DraftKings Sportsbook’s betslip is easy to navigate, and the odds on the same-game parlay feature make it easier to choose picks. DraftKings is also a staple in the Daily Fantasy community.
Grade: A
FanDuel Sportsbook App
Another Daily Fantasy giant, FanDuel has one of the best cashout features of any sportsbook. It also offers new users a promo where they can bet $5 and receive $150 in any market.
Grade: A
WynnBET Sportsbook
WynnBET may not have the user interface or the wide range of betting options that other sportsbooks have, but what it lacks in flash it gains in betting value. WynnBET has some of the lowest “juice” or “vig” amongst the major sportsbooks. For example, it wouldn’t be rare to find a game that is offering less than the standard 10% juice. It also has some great value on futures that you won’t find elsewhere.
Grade: B+
Recent Sports Betting News in Massachusetts
- March 10, 20223: Online Sports Betting officially launched in the state of Massachusetts!
- February 9, 2023: Tentative (and eventual) launch date for Online Sports Betting is set for March 10, 2023.
- January 31, 2023: Retail Sports Betting goes live in Massachusetts.
- December 2022: BetMGM and WynnBET Sportsbook were officially granted mobile licenses as well as retail licenses at MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbour, respectively.
- December 2022: It was announced that retail sports betting at approved locations would officially go live on Jan. 31, 2023. Mobile sports betting to go live at a future date that’s yet to be determined.
- November 2022: Raynham Park Sportsbook announced that it has partnered with Bet365 in hopes of being approved to offer mobile sports betting.
How to Place a Sports Bet in Massachusetts
Placing a sports bet in Colorado is pretty straightforward once you sign up for the app or apps of your choosing. To sign up, you will need register with the following information:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Username/User ID
- Password
- Last four digits of Social Security Number
- Phone Number
- Home Address
You will then be prompted to set security questions and confirm that you are at least 21 years of age. You will also need to give the app permission to use your phone to determine your location to verify you are within the borders of Massachusetts. Once all of that is completed and your identity is verified, you’ll be able to make a deposit to start betting.
Step-By-Step Process for Massachusetts Online Sports Betting
Once your identity has been verified, you’re signed up, and you have made a deposit into your account, you’re ready to bet.
Let’s say, for example, you want to bet on an NFL game involving the New England Patriots. Let’s take a look at what that process would look like.
Step 1: Select the game that you want to bet on.
Step 2: Select the wager you want to place. In this situation, we’re going to take the Patriots to cover the 3-point spread against the Dolphins.
After selecting your bet, your bet slip will show up on the side of the page.
Step 3: Decide what type of bet you want to place. It can either be a single, straight bet, or you can pair it with other bets in a parlay or round robin.
Once you’ve selected the type of bet you want to place, enter the amount you want to wager and hit submit.
Details of Massachusetts Sports Betting Law
The law that was passed to make sports betting legal in Massachusetts was called the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act aka H5164.
There are three types of licenses that operators can apply for inside the state of Massachusetts.
- Category 1: The Category 1 sports betting license allows an operator to have a sportsbook operate at a physical location. A mobile app or a partnership with a mobile app is not included.
- Category 2: A Category 2 sports betting license is only for retail locations that offer betting on horse racing, which is treated as a separate entity than sports betting.
- Category 3: A Category 3 sports betting license allows an operator to offer a mobile sports betting platform. Only seven of these categories will be awarded by the state of Massachusetts. If a Category 3 license is tied to a Category 1, which is to say it also has a physical retail location, it would not count toward the seven Category 3 licenses that will be awarded.
Massachusetts Betting Markets: NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and More
Popular Massachusetts Sports Events
- NBA Finals/NBA Playoffs
- NFL Playoffs
- NHL Playoffs/Stanley Cup Finals
- MLB Playoffs/World Series
- Boston College Football and Basketball
- College Hockey/Frozen Four
- US Open (Golf)
- PGA Championship (Golf)
- The Northern Trust
Common Types of Bets/Terms
Point Spreads
The point spread is how many points a team is projected to win by. In order for the betting favorite to cover the point spread, they need to win by more than the point spread number. For the underdog to cover the point spread, they need to either win the game outright, or lose by fewer points than the point spread is set at.
For example, if you take the Boston Celtics at -5.5 against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics would have to win by six points or more to cover the spread. Or, if the point spread was Celtics +4.5 for a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, you would need the Celtics to win the game outright, or to lose by four or fewer points.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is the simplest of all bets. All you’re betting on is for a team to win a game. If the team you bet on wins, your wager will cash.
Let’s say the New England Patriots are taking on the New York Jets. If you bet on the Patriots and they win the game, no matter the score, the moneyline bet on them will be graded as a win.
OVER/UNDER and Total Bets
An over/under or total is a wager on the total points scored in a game. Both team’s points are counted towards the total. If the total for a Patriots and Jets game is set at 45.5, and the final score is the Patriots 35 and the Jets 17, an OVER bet would be deemed a winner since there were 52 total points scored.
Total bets can be extremely fun to root for, especially if you bet on the OVER. UNDER bets aren’t quite as exciting to root for in most situations, but they can win if you choose the right spot.
Parlay
A parlay is a wager on multiple bets tied together. The bets can be anything from moneyline, point spread, and total, but every single individual bet must cash for the parlay as a whole to cash. It can be as many legs as possible. For example, it could be a two-leg parlay on just two separate wagers, or it could be an eight-leg parlay on eight separate wagers. No matter the amount, every single leg of it has to cash for the parlay to be graded as a winner.
Bettors can get creative with an all-Massachusetts parlay late in September. Want to bet on the Red Sox, Patriots, and Bruins to all win? You can do it.
Prop Bet
A prop bet is a wager on a specific thing to happen in the game, with most not having a direct impact on the final score. The most popular type of prop bet is a player prop bet, which is a bet on a player’s individual performance.
Want to bet on Mac Jones’ passing yards? Or maybe you want to wager on Jayson Tatum to score a ton of points. If so, prop bets are what you’re looking for.
Most Popular Sports to Bet On
The most popular sports to bet on in Massachusetts include football (NFL), hockey (NHL and college hockey), basketball (NBA), and baseball (MLB).
Daily Fantasy Sports in Massachusetts
Daily Fantasy has been legal in Massachusetts since 2016. It became permanently legal in July of 2018 and DraftKings, one of the original daily fantasy platforms, began in the state of Massachusetts.
Betting on Pro Sports Teams in Massachusetts
There are several different pro sports teams in Massachusetts. They have one team for each of the four major sports. The New England Patriots is the state’s NFL team, the Boston Bruins is their NHL team, the Boston Celtics is the NBA team, and the Boston Red Sox is the MLB team represented by Massachusetts.
NFL Betting in Massachusetts
New England Patriots
- The New England Patriots were the most dominant team in the NFL for two decades, from the early 2000’s until Tom Brady left the team in 2020. Now, with Brady in Tampa Bay, the Patriots have struggled to create the same magic. They are still a borderline playoff team, but it seems like it may take a while for them to return to Super Bowl form.
NBA Betting in Massachusetts
Boston Celtics
- The Boston Celtics are one of the best teams in the NBA, and are among Championship favorites heading into 2023. They are the defending Eastern Conference champions, but fell to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals. Don’t be surprised to see them back there at the conclusion of the ongoing NBA season.
NHL Betting in Massachusetts
Boston Bruins
- The Boston Bruins are well on their way to a Stanley Cup run, sporting one of the best records in the NHL with a chance to win the Presidents Trophy. Linus Ullmark has established himself as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, and is a frontrunner to win the 2022-23 Vezina Trophy.
MLB Betting in Massachusetts
Boston Red Sox
- It’s a bit of a rough time for fans of the Boston Red Sox. The team lost Xander Bogaerts to the San Diego Padres and have made minimal moves to make up for it. They will likely be near the bottom of the AL East standings in the 2023 season.
Other Massachusetts Teams to Bet On
Betting on College Basketball in Massachusetts
Bettors will not be able to wager on NCAA games involving in-state schools. Events between two out-of-state schools will be available to bet on.
Massachusetts Online Sports Betting FAQ
Did Massachusetts legalize sports betting?
Sports betting is currently legal in Massachusetts. Retail betting at in-person locations launched on January 31st. Mobile sports betting became legal on March 10, 2023.
Can I bet online on my phone in Massachusetts?
In-person betting officially launched on January 31st. Mobile sports betting Mobile sports betting launched across Massachusetts on March 10, 2023.
Here is a list of sportsbooks applying for licenses in Massachusetts, and who they are partnering with.
- Barstool Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- BetRivers/SugarHouse
- Bally Bet
- Caesars
- Circa Sports
- FOX Bet
- Unibet
- 888sport
- PlayUp
- theScore Bet
- WynnBET Sportsbook
How old do I have to be to bet on Massachusetts’ legal sportsbook apps?
The legal age to bet on sports in Massachusetts is 21.
Can I bet on my college football team in Massachusetts?
You will be able to bet on college football games involving schools that are not located in the state of Massachusetts. The list of schools you won’t bet able to bet on is:
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Harvard
- Holy Cross
- Northeastern
- Any other Massachusetts based college
What payment options can I use for betting in Massachusetts?
There are a few payment options such as: credit cards, e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill, prepaid cards.
Massachusetts Casinos
- Encore Boston Harbour
- Plainridge Park Casino
- MGM Springfield
Best Sports Bars for Betting in Massachusetts
Massachusetts will not allow sports betting in bars for the time being. You will be able to bet on sports at the casinos listed above, which do have restaurants and bars located on site.
Common Payment Options
- PayPal
- ACH/eCheck
- Prepaid Card
- PayNearMe
- Cash @ Cage (Casino)
- Check
Sports Betting Quirks in Massachusetts
There will only be seven total licenses given for mobile-only sports betting operations within the state of Massachusetts.
State-to-State Differences for Neighboring State
Some states allow you to bet on college teams that are located in-state. Massachusetts, as well as a few others such as New York, will not allow you to bet on any games involving in-state schools.
For example, you won’t be able to bet on any college football games involving Boston College.
Final Thoughts on Betting in Massachusetts
Sports betting is expected to be extremely popular in a sports-loving state like Massachusetts. Now that there is officially Online Sports Betting, the sky is the limit with Sports Betting in Massachusetts!
Sportsbook-Partner
There are two sportsbooks approved for retail use. Both will have retail locations at their parent companies' casinos. Those two sportsbooks are:
- WynnBET Sportsbook - Encore Boston Harbour
- BetMGM Sportsbook - MGM Springfield
The following sportsbook are active in Massachusetts after online sports betting became legal March 10, 2023.
- Bally Bet
- Barstool Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- betr Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- WynnBET Sportsbook
In this article you will find all the information that’s currently available about betting on sports in the state of Massachusetts.
