Massachusetts

Professional sports teams in Massachusetts have always seemed to have a championship pedigree, so it only felt right when the state legalized sports betting on August 1, 2022. After a few twists and turns, the residents of the Bay State currently have seven legal mobile sportsbooks up for grabs.

Bettors in MA have full reign to bet on their favorite local professional sports teams. However, when it comes to wagering on collegiate sports, bettors can only wager on in-state colleges when they are playing major events like March Madness. For those looking for a sports betting alternative, daily fantasy sports apps are also available in MA.

While betting on horse racing is available to in-state bettors, it is still illegal to wager on greyhound races. As far as non-sport-related wagers go, customers can bet on entertainment-based events like award shows, but they are not permitted to legally bet on politics or eSports.

Fantasy fishing leagues in Massachusetts: The untapped DFS market

Cape Cod’s fishing culture could reel in a surprising new trend, and that is fantasy fishing on Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platforms. With the state hosting numerous competitive fishing tournaments, the infrastructure already exists for up-to-the-minute data collection and scoring.

DFS platforms could allow players to draft anglers, boats, or captains based on performance history, targeting stats like total catch weight, most species caught, or largest single fish. With that, the idea of these contests would be similar to drafting a DFS golf lineup for an upcoming tournament. 

Fantasy fishing would offer a uniquely laid-back twist on traditional DFS contests, attracting both anglers and casual players seeking a uniquely Massachusetts experience. For platforms looking to stand out in a crowded market and states like Massachusetts looking to expand niche DFS markets, Cape Cod’s waters might just be the key.

Online Sports Betting in The Bay State

The efforts to get sports betting legalized in Massachusetts had always been there. Starting in 2019, sports betting bills started to make their way into legislative sessions, but up until 2022, the Senate was adamantly opposed to the legalization despite the Governor’s support.

In 2022, the House and Senate were still in disagreement about multiple aspects of the sports betting bill, with one of the biggest areas of contention being the rules surrounding wagering on college sports. However, even with the odds stacked against the bill being passed on August 1, 2022, the two sides came to an agreement, and Governor Charlie Baker was able to sign legalized sports betting into law on August 10th.

Once Gov. Baker signed HB 5164 into law, the long wait for legal sports betting in one of the biggest sports-centric states was finally over. Once the bill was signed, the process of handing out licenses began, and by January 31, 2023, the state was prepared to officially enter into phase one of legalized sports betting, which was retail betting.

Bettors in MA had three retail betting locations to choose from while awaiting the official launch of mobile betting. That launch day would come on March 10, 2023, when six mobile sportsbooks, including Caesars, BetMGM, FanDuel, WynnBet, and others, officially launched.

Since the official online launch day, Massachusetts has further expanded its online market by adding the Bally Bet and Fanatics Sportsbook, giving bettors a total of seven to choose from for the time being.

All legal MA sports betting apps in 2025 (from newest to oldest):

Recently closed online sportsbooks

Sports betting & gambling legislation in MA

Sports betting is fully legal in Massachusetts, which means bettors must be at least 21 years old. As far as other restrictions go, bettors are not allowed to make deposits with credit cards, which is not a common restriction among legal gambling states, so it’s important for residents to keep that in mind.

Bettors have the option for remote registration, so while they do not need to be on the grounds of retail property to create a mobile betting account, they must be within state lines to place a legal wager on their mobile sportsbook account. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission enforces all of these aforementioned rules and regulations while also enforcing the strict guidelines that operators in the state must abide by.

Naturally, the state still manages all tax-related matters. In Massachusetts, all gambling income is subject to a 5% state tax, and in addition, all winnings over $5,000 are subject to a 24% federal tax rate.

With online and retail betting now legal due to House Bill 5164, iGaming remains one of the few gambling-related issues that is still illegal in the state. Whether that will change in the near future is still uncertain, but given the amount of work still needed to develop the sports betting market, the issue of iGaming will likely be sidelined for a while.

From Harvard to high stakes: the case for academic wagering in MA

Massachusetts has some of the most academically notable schools in the country, with institutions like Harvard and MIT leading global innovation. But could the state also pioneer a new type of betting that entails wagering on academic competitions? While sports betting has already been legalized, the idea of gambling on brainpower might seem unconventional, but it is potentially a gold mine.

Events like the Harvard-MIT robotics competitions, national spelling bees, and even collegiate quiz bowls attract fierce competition and impressive audiences. Enthusiasts already debate outcomes in forums and through friendly wagers with peers, so why not place actual stakes on these intellectual showdowns? The number of markets that could be wagered on in these fields are countless, whether it be the winner of a robotics competition, or which school gets the most correct answers at a quiz bowl. 

The challenges, of course, lie in regulation and ethics. Getting academic institutions to embrace this could be quite the uphill battle. While it may seem far-fetched now, as eSports and alternative wagering markets grow, Massachusetts could find itself at the forefront of a betting revolution fueled not by physical feats but by wit.

How Revolutionary War Reenactments Could Spark Novelty Bets in Massachusetts

It may sound like a revolutionary idea, but Massachusetts could transform its rich Revolutionary War heritage into an unexpected source of betting revenue. Events in Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill already attract thousands of spectators each year, so the potential to add a playful element of prediction is certainly possible. Prop bets such as “Which actor gets ‘shot’ first?”, “Will Paul Revere fall off his horse?” or “Duration of the battle scene” could engage both local bettors and tourists.

Of course, ethical concerns would make offering this market difficult for local licensed sportsbooks. However, this unique blend of education, entertainment, and gaming would capture attention both locally and nationally, especially among history buffs and casual gamblers, whom sportsbooks may not be profiting from if they don’t enjoy traditional sports betting. 

Most recent updates from the MA sports betting scene

• April 15, 2025: By securing the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics will play the winner of the Magic vs. Hawks Play-In Game. Boston is (-145) to win the East prior to knowing their matchup.

• April 10, 2025: The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is digging into how sportsbooks limit bettors' wagers but says any regulatory steps are far off. After requesting complex data from operators in December, the MGC now seeks a data analyst's help to better understand the practice before deciding the next steps.

• April 1, 2025: Rafael Devers became the first player in MLB history to strike out 12 times in a team's first four games. Devers has fallen to (+8000) to win the AL MVP.

• March 28, 2025: MA lawmakers are pushing a bill to curb impulsive sports betting by banning live-game ads, in-play and prop bets, and misleading promos. The proposal also requires sportsbooks to verify that big bettors can afford their wagers, aiming to reduce gambling harm through stricter oversight.

• March 25, 2025: Massachusetts subpoenas Robinhood, an electronic trading platform, over its new prediction market tied to sports and financial events, including March Madness bets. The platform, known for shaking up finance and crypto, reportedly drew $200 million in NCAA tournament wagers with partner Kalshi.

• February 20, 2025: With the second half of the season about to get underway, the Boston Celtics are (-115) to win the Eastern Conference and (+235) to win the NBA Finals.

• February 13, 2025: The Boston Red Sox have signed Alex Bregman to a three-year contract, as he is expected to be their second baseman. Boston's win total is set at 86.5 games on DraftKings.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

All casinos and racetracks in Massachusetts were awarded licenses when the sports betting bill was passed, which means there are currently three retail locations available to bettors, with two more expected to join in the near future. The two locations expected to join down the line are Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs, both of which are pari-mutuel simulcast facilities. These locations will be able to partner with one online and one retail operator apiece.

The three casinos that have opened their doors to sports bettors since the launch have the option to partner with two online skins, all of which have already been claimed.

Betting on broth: Chowder Wars could add flavor to Massachusetts gambling

Massachusetts has long been divided over one of the state’s most passionate culinary debates—New England clam chowder versus its less popular cousin, Manhattan clam chowder. The creamy, hearty white broth of New England’s version is a staple of local menus, while the tomato-based Manhattan variety is often met with disgust in the Bay State. But could this rivalry go beyond taste and venture into the world of gambling?

With food competitions already an integral part of state fairs and culinary festivals, a chowder betting market could be a unique and creative addition to Massachusetts’ gambling scene. Annual “Chowder Wars” hosted in Boston, where top chefs compete in a blind taste test while bettors place wagers on which style will impress the judges. Novelty prop bets could also be involved. 

While this idea may seem outrageous, food betting has been surging in popularity, highlighted by the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Given the growing interest in this market, this could be an idea to toy with to drive even more tax revenue from sports betting. One thing that is guaranteed if this market sees the light of day is that Manhattan clam chowder would be a massive underdog.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Right next to Massachusetts, happens to be the highest earning state for sports betting handle in 2023, in New York. Outside of the juggernaut that is NY, residents of MA can also travel over the border to New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut to find legal sports betting.

Vermont was the most recent neighboring state to MA to pass a sports betting bill. To find out more about that bill, select the state below.

Sports betting revenue impact on Massachusetts' economy

It did not take long for Massachusetts to start managing record-breaking numbers when it came to sports betting handle and revenue. Already in October 2023, Massachusetts was tenth out of all legal sports betting states in overall handle for the year at $3.65 billion, which is impressive considering sports betting only launched in January of 2023. It certainly helps that Massachusetts offers seven of the largest sports betting apps on the market.

In 2024, MA set new record figures in all revenue data categories, with more than $7.4 billion placed wagers in total (handle), over $668 million in revenue gained by sportsbooks, and around $130 million in tax income. According to the projections, 2025 should be another excellent year for the MA betting market.

There are two ways an online operator can obtain a license in MA. In total, there are 15 licenses, and eight are available for an operator to partner with either a casino or racetrack. The other seven licenses are standalone, so they do not require a partnership, but they are on a competitive basis. Regardless of how they are obtained, the fee for a license is $5 million. For tax rates, online sportsbooks have to pay a rate of 20%, while retail sportsbooks pay a rate of 15%.

With the pure size of the state and the fact that more operators could join the market, Massachusetts has a real chance to be one of the highest-earning states of 2024. Ironically, much like the professional sports world, the biggest state that MA will compete with is New York, as the two states have two of the largest sports fan bases in the U.S.

Massachusetts sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: December 2024 ($788,340,996)

• Revenue: January 2025 ($96,372,000)

• Tax income: January 2025 ($18,836,028)

Latest MA sports betting revenue report breakdown (February 2025)

• Total betting handle: $628,170,780

  • Mobile betting handle: $618,587,815

  • Retail betting handle: $9,582,965

• Winnings paid to players: $728,922,169

  • Hold: 10.68%

• Gross revenue: $67,108,767

  • Online sportsbooks' revenue: $66,852,672

  • Retail revenue: $256,095

• Total adjusted (taxable) revenue: $65,570,377

• Total tax revenue for the state: $13,103,806

Reported by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Top performing sports betting apps in the state in February 2025:

1. DraftKings (Handle: $317.0m, Revenue: $36.8m)

2. FanDuel (Handle: $167.2m, Revenue: $19.6m)

3. BetMGM (Handle: $54.6m, Revenue: $4.8m)

4. Fanatics (Handle: $33.0m, Revenue: $3.1m)

5. ESPN Bet (Handle: $22.0m, Revenue: $1.6m)

6. Caesars Sportsbook (Handle: $21.1m, Revenue: $639,849)

7. Bally Bet (Handle: $3.8m, Revenue: $286,551)

MA mobile sportsbook apps market shares right now (Feb. 2025 data)

Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)

MA sports betting revenue in 2025

The three most vital figures, sports betting total handle, revenue, and tax income for the state, coming from Massachusetts Gaming Commission revenue report monthly reports, are presented in the following table for the 2025 year. The percentage figure represents the change compared to the previous month.

2024 revenue data

Yearly revenue data

Could Boston Marathon betting boost Massachusetts gambling revenue?

The Boston Marathon is one of the most prestigious races in the world, drawing elite athletes and thousands of enthusiastic runners. However, could it ever be considered a sports betting event? While major races like the Kentucky Derby permit wagering, betting on individual marathon runners presents ethical concerns.

However, looking at the case solely from the business standpoint, introducing a regulated betting market focused solely on elite athletes and performance-based props could open a new revenue stream for Massachusetts' growing gambling industry. If structured correctly, mirroring horse racing's parimutuel model, for example, the state could see millions in new wagers during Marathon Week.

Even capturing just 1% of the state's monthly betting handle (which averaged over $600 million in 2024) would result in $6 million in additional bets, generating around $750,000 in tax income at the state's wagering tax rates.

Novel betting markets like split-time over/unders, nationality-based outcomes, or group finishes could keep wagers on the ethical side while fueling fan engagement. As seen in the NFL and NBA, regulated betting markets boost viewership and tax income alike. However, allowing even this type of wagers on the race could lead to unwanted hateful messages, increased pressure, and the possibility of throwing the prestige event.