Massachusetts Online Gambling: Quick Facts
- Legal Massachusetts online gambling options: None
- Legal gambling age: 21
- Who regulates Massachusetts online gambling? N/A
- Legal mobile gambling? No
- Do I need to be physically located in Massachusetts to gamble online? N/A
- Do I need to be a resident of Massachusetts to gamble online? N/A
- Sports avalable to bet on: Horse racing at tracks only.
- What can't I bet on? Online sports, and casino or poker games.
A Brief History of Massachusetts Online Gambling
Massachusetts online gambling could be on the way, but it isn't her yet. In 2018, states gained the right to legalize online sports betting after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. New Jersey wanted to legalize sports betting, and they were the state that led the charge in court.
This battle spanned close to a decade. In the end, the states defeated the professional sports leagues and NCAA when PASPA was deemed unconstitutional. Massachusetts did not attempt to legalize online gambling until 2019.
However, none of the attempts in 2019 were taken seriously, so all of them fell apart in the initial stages of the legislative process. In 2020, the House of Representatives attempted to pass a bill with two weeks left in the legislative session.
The House supported the bill, and it passed, but the Senate did not want to deal with sports betting in any capacity. It was overwhelming discouraged in the Senate. The Senate amended the bill, and they took out all sports betting measures. The bill died in 2020 following promises that a deal would get done.
The Massachusetts legislature is confident that sports betting will be legalized in 2021. Governor Charlie Baker has proposed his own sports betting bill, so the support is prevalent. Sports betting will help MA recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, so it has started to become more favorable.
The legislative session will not adjourn until the end of the year, so there is plenty of time for a deal to get done. Connecticut will join New Hampshire and Rhode Island in the group of MA border states that offer sports betting.
This fact will also push MA to launch sports betting as soon as possible. Online casino gaming is unlikely in the state.
Online Gambling in Massachusetts: The Current Law
There is no online gambling allowed in Massachusetts. The only online game for money that is legal is daily fantasy sports. This is considered a game of skill, and so it isn't technically defined as gambling. Online sports betting should be legalized in 2021 or 2022.
Legal Online Sportsbooks in Massachusetts
There are no legal online sportsbooks in Massachusetts. However, the state has the potential to be a huge market because of the professional sports teams and the city of Boston. The DraftKings sportsbook company is headquartered in Boston, so it’s likely that it will play a significant role in the state.
New Hampshire gave DraftKings the right to be the sole provider in the state. This could be the case in Boston because of DraftKings’ relationship with the city, but only time will tell.
Sports Betting in Massachusetts
There are plenty of professional sports teams in Massachusetts. If sports betting were legalized, these teams would be favored by bettors in the state. The New England Patriots (NFL), Boston Red Sox (MLB), Boston Celtics (NBA) and Boston Bruins (NHL) all play in the state.
MA is one of the rare states with a professional team in all four of the major sports leagues. Boston is a city of champions, and all these teams have won multiple titles in their respective leagues.
If sports betting is legalized in MA, these bets will be available to use on professional sports teams in the state and around the nation. There is also a possibility that Massachusetts legalizes college sports betting as well.
The moneyline, point spread, and over/under are the typical wagers on a sportsbook. If you become comfortable with these wager types now, you will be a step ahead when sports betting is legalized.
Legal Online Casinos
It’s unlikely that online casino betting will be legalized in MA. The state legislature only seems to be discussing sports betting at this time.
This is a possibility because Connecticut is going to legalize online casino gambling. MA could lose bettors to CT if they do not enact online casinos.
MA does have multiple landlocked casinos, including MGM Springfield, the state’s premier betting location. This casino was recently built and is frequented by people in the state and surrounding area.
Legal Online Poker
Poker is legal in MA inside card rooms in the state’s casinos. There are no online poker options in the state. Online poker should be legalized alongside online casino gaming.
How to Set Up a Massachusetts Gambling Account
If Massachusetts legalizes online gambling, you will be able to sign up on your mobile device. There is a chance that you will have to sign up in person, but this is unlikely and more difficult.
To set up an online gambling account, you have to download a legal app and fill in the registration information.
The required information is your name, address, date of birth, and social security number upon registration, depending on the site. The social security number is necessary for a sportsbook to assure that you are legally able to gamble.
The most important thing to do with an online Massachusetts betting account is to create a great password. A strong password will keep the money safe inside your account.
Banking Methods
Massachusetts should offer a wide variety of banking options if sports betting is legalized. Most bettors will just utilize credit/debit cards, but sportsbooks offer other similar gambling options.
Some of the banking options on sportsbooks are PayPal, Neteller, PayNearMe, e-Check through ACH Payments, or a banking wire. You do not have to worry about financial theft because sportsbooks implement unbreakable security measures for their players’ personal information.
The Future of Online Gambling in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is close but far away at the same time concerning online gambling. There have been legislatures that have promised online betting since 2019, but nothing has been established.
Governor Charlie Baker has proposed a bill of his own that legalizes online sports betting. There will be amendments, but his support should help push sports betting law to the forefront of the legislature’s docket.
Some form of online gambling should be legalized in 2021 in Massachusetts. If this does not occur, expect it to happen in 2022.
