Gaming Commission Receives 15 Massachusetts Sports Betting License Applications

• 15 total sports betting applications submitted to Massachusetts Gaming Commission
• Deadline for application was 2 p.m. (EST) this afternoon
• Only six applications submitted for coveted untethered online sports betting licenses

Following a 2 p.m. deadline, the state gaming commission received 15 Massachusetts sports betting license applications, including six for untethered online sports betting licenses.

FanDuel Massachusetts, DraftKings Massachusetts, Betway, BallyBet, Betr, and PointsBet each submitted applications to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for an untethered online sports betting licenses. The state will allow for a total of seven untethered online sports betting licenses.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has set a goal of launching in-person betting in January and online sports betting in March.

Casino Sports Betting Partnerships Announced

The Commonwealth will allow up to 15 online sports betting licenses. Each of the three state casinos can partner with up to two operators, each of the two racinos can partner with one operator, and seven untethered online sports betting licenses will be awarded.

Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino each submitted applications for Category 1 operator licenses. The Massachusetts sports betting bill allows each of these casinos to operate retail sports betting at their facilities and partner with up to two online sports betting operators to run their mobile services.

According to a release from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Encore Boston Harbor will partner with WynnBet and Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts for its online sports betting services; MGM Springfield has indicated they will only partner with BetMGM Massachusetts for its online services; and Plainridge Park Casino will partner with Barstool Sportsbook Massachusetts  and BetFanatics for its online sports betting.

Each of these online sports betting partners will be required to be license as Category 3 operators and have submitted relevant applications. Each applicant has submitted the necessary $200,000 application fee.

It will be a costly venture to begin operating in Massachusetts, as the commission recently voted 5-0 to clarify its sports betting bill, requiring that every license holder pay a $5 million licensing fee.

A Category 2 license allows its holder to offer both retail and online sports betting. In order to offer online sports betting, Category 2 license holders must partner with an online sports betting operator, all of whom must have a Category 3 sports betting license. Category 3 licenses require a $5 million fee.

Category 2 Licenses Accepted on Rolling Basis

The Gaming Commission will continue to accept Category 2 license applications, though Raynham Park has made its online sports betting partnership public. Raynham Park will partner with bet365 to operate its online sports betting program, with the operator already applying for a Category 3 operator license.

Suffolk Downs has yet to announce its online partnership.