In 2018, the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Act that had been put in place to ban all forms of sports betting. Since then, US states have been free to legalize and regulate sports betting. Several states have moved quickly to enact new laws, and sportsbooks have started to appear across the country, both in-person and online.
While thirty states have already legalized some form of gambling, many more are still in the process of drafting up laws to regulate it. Massachusetts is one of the states that hasn’t quite finalized the process yet, although it is currently moving towards legal online sports betting.
The New Massachusetts Sports Betting Bill
In July 2021, the Massachusetts House of Representatives decisively supported a plan to legalize sports betting in the state. However, the subject of whether to allow wagers on college sports has emerged as a major sticking point between the House and the Senate.
The good news for fans of sports betting living in Massachusetts is that this bill being passed means that legal sports betting is now very much likely on its way to the state. Of course, the bill will still have to pass through the Senate, and at the moment, it’s unclear how long that will take. The current estimation is that the bill will be passed by the end of 2021, allowing the first sports bets to be placed not long after (Patriot Ledger, 2021).
Outside of sports betting, Massachusetts already allows parimutuel betting on horse, and dog races and the state is also home to several Indian casinos, two resort casinos, and a slot parlor where people can place legal real money wagers on casino games and slots. However, online casinos and poker sites are currently not allowed to operate in Massachusetts and there are no plans to change this currently.
Betting Restrictions in Massachusetts
While sports betting isn’t quite legal yet, the details of the bill that recently passed the House are available to see. The bill outlines the restrictions on how and where people can bet, detailing that bettors will need to be at least 21 years old and will only be able to place bets at licensed sportsbooks. Both online and in-person sportsbooks will require a license from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (SBC Americas, 2021).
People from outside the state will be able to place bets at Massachusetts sportsbooks, but only if they’re currently within the state borders. They’ll need to provide their location as well as verify their ID before they can place any real money wagers on sports.
The current proposed bill for Massachusetts sports betting includes college sports, although it’s possible that this will be removed. As it stands, bettors can place wagers on college sports but won’t be able to place proposition bets on college events.
Massachusetts Sports Betting FAQ
Are Online Sportsbooks Legal in Massachusetts?
No, currently the law doesn’t allow online sportsbooks to operate within the state. However, the House recently passed a bill that would allow online sportsbooks to launch in late 2021.
Are Online Casinos Legal in Massachusetts?
Online casinos are unfortunately still banned in MA, despite the new betting laws. This means you won’t be able to play casino games on your computer or mobile but you can still play at land-based casinos.
Is Online Poker Legal in Massachusetts?
No, online poker is currently illegal in the state of MA and you won’t be able to sign up at poker sites licenced in the state. Your only options are sweepstake sites or offshore poker sites that accept MA players.
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