Massachusetts Sports Betting Landscape Taking Early Shape

• Several sports betting operators have submitted notices of intent to Massachusetts Gaming Commission
• The Massachusetts Gaming Commission requests that each operator submit a notice of intent if planning to submit a sports betting license application
• The final deadline for a notice of intent is Wednesday, Aug. 31

Twelve sports betting operators have submitted notices of intent to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to help the regulatory body gauge interest in Massachusetts sports betting licenses.

Ahead of the sports betting licensing process, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission requested all interested sports betting operators submit a notice of intent by Wednesday, Aug. 31. The notice of intent is not an official license application and only serves for informational purposes, but it gives an initial overview of operators who have potential plans to jump into the Massachusetts sports betting market.

We’ll revisit the final list on Aug. 31, but here’s a snapshot of the Massachusetts sports betting landscape so far.

Massachusetts Sports Betting Shaping Up

As of Friday, Aug. 26, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, and Bally Bet were among the first operators to submit notices to the commission. Here is the full list, which can be found on the commission’s website here:

• Betr Holdings, Inc. 
• Sportradar Solutions, LLC
• 888 US, Inc. (Sports Illustrated Sportsbook)
• PlayUp Interactive MA, LLC
• NYX Digital Gaming, LLC
• Bally’s Interactive, LLC
• PointsBet Massachusetts, LLC
• Massasoit Greyhound Association, Inc.
• FBG Enterprises OPCO, LLC (Bet Fanatics)
• Crown Gaming, LLC (DraftKings)
• GAN Nevada, Inc.
• WynnBet

Several other operators are expected to submit notices of intent before the Aug. 31 deadline. Caesars Sportsbook will likely submit a notice, as well as BetMGM and Penn National Gaming (Barstool Sportsbook), as both are currently partnered with state casinos.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will next meet on Thursday, Sept. 8, and will hopefully have more information on a potential roadmap to Massachusetts’ retail and online sports betting launch.

Retail Sports Betting Likely to Launch First

Despite not having a specific date for launch, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said a “universal launch” date will likely be announced first for retail sports betting, with online sports betting likely launching after.

At a roundtable meeting earlier this month, representatives from state casinos Encore Harbor Boston, Plainridge Park Casino, and MGM Springfield, plus representatives from Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs, all expressed positivity at being able to launch retail sports betting at their facilities soon, either in temporary sportsbooks or previously constructed sports lounges.

Augustine Kim, VP and Legal Counsel of BetMGM Springfield, said when the final regulations are set by the gaming commission MGM Springfield will be able to launch retail sports betting within 90 days.

Jacqui Krum, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Encore Boston Harbor, said the casino will utilize a permanent sports lounge it constructed in preparation for legalized sports betting. Krum also noted the casino was considering installing sports betting kiosks in a level of the parking garage for customers to be able to access from their cars.