When will online gambling be legal in Massachusetts?
Written by
Joe - Poker PlayerLast updated:
February 3, 2024The state of Massachusetts has come a long way when it comes to gambling legislation. The major shake in this state and its laws happened in 2011 when casino gambling became legal, and the state approved three land-based casinos and one Slots House to be opened. But how about online gambling? When will online gambling be legal in Massachusetts? Read this article to the end to find out about all the details of gambling in Massachusetts.
What are the legal forms of gambling in Massachusetts?
As mentioned earlier, the state government has approved three casinos and one slot house in the state. Investors in this industry, who had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, started working immediately. And now, the state has three shining casinos in its three main regions. Let’s find out about all of the legal gambling activities in Massachusetts.
Casino games
The three land-based casinos in the state of Massachusetts are:
- MGM in Springfield: this is the first legal casino in the state, and it offers 2,600 different card, dice, and Slot games.
- Encore Casino Boston in Everett: after MGM, Encore came along determined to be bigger and more successful than its only rival. Therefore, there are 2,800 games in Encore.
- Plainridge Park: Plainridge is the one casino in Massachusetts devoted to Slot games. This casino offers 1,200 Slot Machines, but there are also other electronic gaming machines for Blackjack, Roulette, and Craps.
Sports betting
The legalization of sports betting in Massachusetts was another great shake to the state. In its land-based form, sports betting became officially legal on January 31, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. The three legal casinos were allowed to accept bets on horse racing, dog racing, and other major sporting events. An interesting fact about Sports betting is that the state of Massachusetts has set a 25% tax on all sports betting activities and expects to earn $60 million a year in tax money.
Online sports betting
Online sports betting was the second phase of the sports betting legalization process, and it kicked off on March 10, 2023. Six mobile betting operators were authorized to start their services in the state of Massachusetts. These companies are:
Fantasy sports
Daily fantasy Sports became legal in 2018, and since then, people have been able to play their favorite Fantasy sports legally and freely. Of course, there is one rule that you should know about before engaging in Fantasy Sports. The legal age of gambling in Massachusetts is 21 if you want to participate in casino gambling and DFSs. To participate in charitable Bingo and bazaar, you should be at least 18.
Lottery
The story of the State Lottery in Massachusetts dates back to 1971. Since then, people have won millions of dollars in life-changing draws. But these lotteries have also had a profit of $1.193 billion for the cities and towns of the state. The official state lottery’s website also has the option of other games such as Keno, Powerball, Wheel of Luck, and some new Instant Games.
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What is the state of online gambling in Massachusetts?
Here is the simple truth about online gambling in Massachusetts: it’s illegal! And the government has not announced any plans to legalize it any time soon. There are no online casinos inside the state. However, that does not mean that online gambling is completely forbidden in the state. It means that eager online gamblers have to put their trust in offshore websites and accept the fact that they won’t have any legal support from the government in case of trouble.
There are also Sweepstakes websites where you can play all your favorite online games. The difference between Sweepstakes and regular online gambling websites is that the former plays with an inside virtual currency rather than real money. But your winnings, Sweeps coins, are redeemable for real cash prizes according to the casino’s regulations.
What are the best online casinos in Massachusetts?
These online casinos have been chosen based on their safety and customer support, the amount of welcome bonus you will receive by making your first deposit, and the number and variety of the games they offer.
- Red Dog Casino: The Red Dog Casino is one of the best online casinos approved by millions of users. This casino has a welcome bonus of up to $8,000. Red Dog offers over 100 Slot games, card games, and other popular casino games. But it doesn’t have any live dealers yet.
- BetUS: BetUS has an enormous advantage over the other online casinos in Massachusetts: it has an online sports betting section. Other than all the other casino games, such as Slots, Poker, and live dealers, you can also bet on your favorite sporting events.
- Betonline: Betonline is one of the oldest and most trusted online gambling platforms in the industry. From classic table games and slots, to E-sports, horse racing, sports betting, and live dealer games, Betonline has it all. Generous bonuses like a $1,000 welcome bonus allow players to get the most of their deposit money.
- Chumba Casino: Chumba casino is a social casino where you can play classic casino games, like slots and blackjack with virtual currencies called Gold Coins. The best part is that you can redeem your winnings for cash prizes.
To sum up
Despite all the progress the state of Massachusetts has made over the last few years, online gambling is still illegal in this state. Moreover, many experts believe there won’t be any change to this status in the near future. However, there is no cause for despair. Many online gambling websites are based out of the state or offshore and can give you all your favorite games.
FAQs
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Can I use Bet365 legally in Massachusetts?
Yes. The State of Massachusetts has legalized sports betting. Bet365 maintains a license in Massachusetts and is legal to use.
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Does Boston have a casino?
Sort of. There are three casinos in the state of Massachusetts, and two of them are situated close to Boston.
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What is the most downloaded sports betting app in Massachusetts?
The most popular sports betting app in Massachusetts is BetMGM Massachusetts, which also has a land-based casino in the state. After MGM, the second and third places go to Caesars Massachusetts and FanDuel Massachusetts.
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Can you play online Poker in Massachusetts?
Legally, no. Online Poker is illegal in Massachusetts, and there are no online Poker events in the state. However, you have some international options for online Poker tournaments.