Massachusetts Online Gambling
Massachusetts became the 36th US state to legalize sports betting in August 2022, with sportsbooks formally launching in the jurisdiction the following January.
However, despite being surrounded by three states that have taken steps to legalize online casino gambling (Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey), MA has yet to follow suit. What legislative plans are in place, and how will Massachusetts gambling continue to evolve in the future?
Best Massachusetts Gambling Sites
Current Massachusetts law allows a maximum of 15 sports betting licenses. Eight are affiliated with an existing land-based partner, whereas the other seven are open to applications. There are currently seven sportsbooks live in MA, including the following:
Is Online Gambling Legal in Massachusetts?
You can engage in both online and retail sports betting in MA after the state senate enacted HB 5164 on August 1, 2022. Governor Charlie Baker signed this into law on August 10, and the first licensed sportsbooks launched in Massachusetts on January 31, 2023.
As we’ve touched on, seven of the state’s 15 available sportsbook licenses have been granted. These operators generated a sports betting handle of $447.3 million in August 2024. However, the federal Safe Act legislation proposed in September could see increased tax levies and ad restrictions imposed on sportsbooks nationwide.
This encouraged MA Senator Jacob Oliveira and Senator John Keenan to put forward SD 2428 and SD 1657, respectively, increasing the tax payable by Massachusetts betting sites from 20% to 51%. Most importantly, this legislation would implement stringent wagering limits and prohibit in-play and prop bets, directly impacting turnover and profitability.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) betting is also legal in MA, and there is also a state-run lottery. However, online casino gambling and poker remain illegal in Massachusetts, and this is unlikely to change in the 2025 legislative session. The good news is that Senator Paul Feeney and Representative Daniel Cahill have proposed bills SD 2240 and HD 4084 to create a regulated market in the state. Legislatures will discuss this further this year.
Massachusetts Gambling History
Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing is also legal in Massachusetts, specifically at the state’s only active racetrack (Plainridge Racecourse). Both horse and greyhound race betting were legalized back in 1934 and paved the way for other Massachusetts gambling verticals. This included the MA State Lottery, which was subsequently launched in 1971.
However, in-person casino gambling wasn’t permitted in the state until the Expanded Gaming Act was passed in 2011. This legislation allowed up to four commercial casinos to operate in MA alongside a single slot parlor. The preexisting Plainridge Racecourse launched slots in June 2015 before the MGM Springfield casino opened its doors in August 2018.
The most recent legislative measures have focused on Massachusetts iGaming, including remote betting and online casino gambling. But how exactly has the industry evolved during the previous 91 years? Here’s a brief overview:
1934: Pari-mutuel horse racing is legalized and launched in MA. Races started at the state’s Plainridge Racecourse, which continues to operate in 2025.
1971: The Massachusetts Lottery launched. This is available to state residents aged 18 and older, while 20% of the revenue is committed to the state’s general fund.
2011: The Expanded Gaming Act allows four commercial casinos and one slot parlor to open in Massachusetts. However, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) also plans to open a local Native American casino in the short term.
2014: Penn National Gaming was issued a state-wide Category 2 slots parlor license. Plainridge Park subsequently introduced slot machines before the casino opened in the summer of 2015.
2016: Bill 940 CMR: 34 is approved. This legalizes DFS betting in the state on a temporary two-year basis.
July 2018: Lawmakers permanently approve DFS legislation.
August 24, 2018: The second MA casino opened its doors, with the MGM Springfield being the first Category 1 operator to launch in the state.
June 2019: The Encore Boston Harbor casino resort opens for business.
August 10, 2022: Governor Charlie Baker signs HB 5164 into law, legalizing sports betting in Massachusetts.
January 31, 2023: The first sportsbook launches in MA.
Your Legal Gambling Options in Massachusetts
While several forms of gambling are now lawful in the state, Massachusetts online casinos and virtual poker remain prohibited. This is unlikely to change significantly in 2025, although it’s hoped that some progress may be made in the upcoming state legislative session. In the meantime, here’s an at-a-glance summary of your legal gambling options in MA.
| Type of Gambling | Legal? | When Legalized? |
| Online Casinos | No | N/A |
| Land-Based Casinos | Yes | 2011 |
| Online Poker | No | N/A |
| Land-Based Poker | Yes | 2011 |
| Online Sports Betting | Yes | 2022 |
| Retail Sports Betting | Yes | 2022 |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Yes | 2016 |
| Horse Racing | Yes | 1934 |
| Lottery | Yes | 1971 |
| Charitable Gambling | Yes | 1971 |
Sports Betting
Since becoming the 36th state to legalize sports betting in the US, Massachusetts has seen this vertical grow exponentially. In December 2024, the state reported a record sports betting handle for the fourth consecutive month, as bettors in the Bay State wagered $788.3 million in total, even though just seven of the state’s 15 sports betting licenses have been granted to date. This vertical will become even more generative in the coming years.
Online Casino
At the time of writing, online casino gambling is prohibited in Massachusetts. Although SD 2240 and HD 4084 have petitioned to form a regulated internet gambling market, the legislation has yet to be discussed in the House or the Senate. It’s hoped that lawmakers will make some progress before the end of the MA legislative session in November.
Poker
Online poker is similarly prohibited in MA. However, players can wager at any of the state’s commercial casino locations, with the Encore Boston Harbor’s premier Poker Room ideal for high-rollers. Private poker games are also permitted in Massachusetts as long as there are no entry fees, and the hosts refrain from selling food or liquor without a license.
Daily Fantasy Sports
DFS betting became legal in MA in 2016, when temporary bill 940 CMR: 34 was passed into law. DraftKings and FanDuel lead the DFS betting market in MA and the US. Interestingly, both were among the first sportsbooks to launch in Massachusetts in January 2023 and continue offering residents a range of DFS betting lines and markets.
Lottery
The Massachusetts Lottery was introduced in 1971. Lottery services are now available to online bettors as well. Several in-house games and multi-jurisdictional jackpot draws, including Powerball and Mega Millions, are available to MA bettors.
The biggest-ever Mega Millions prize won in the state was claimed in 2004, when a ticket sold at Powers Wine and Liquor in Lowell secured $294 million. The legal age to engage in lottery betting in Massachusetts is just 18, while you must be aged 21 and over to wager on sports or at land-based casinos.
Retail Sportsbooks
In addition to the seven online sports betting sites in MA, three retail sportsbooks are currently available. These sportsbooks are available at each of the state’s commercial casinos: Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston Harbor.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has also approved in-person sports betting at Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs in Boston. However, despite being approved for a license to operate in MA, the operator has yet to launch a retail sportsbook.
Land-Based Casinos
While the Expanded Gaming Act allowed for the construction of four commercial casinos in Massachusetts, just three have opened. Penn National Gaming, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Resorts operate the Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston Harbor locations, respectively.
As we’ve touched on, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head is pushing ahead with plans to open an Indian casino in Aquinnah, although ongoing legal battles have delayed construction. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is reportedly planning to open a casino at the First Light Casino & Resort in Taunton.
Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes or social casinos are also legal in Massachusetts because they require you to wager with a virtual currency rather than real money. Sweepstakes casinos unlock access to various slots and live dealer games from reputable and much-loved software providers like NetEnt.
Wow Vegas and the Chumba Casino are among the most popular sweepstakes casinos in MA. These operators offer a wide array of games, letting you play with Gold Coins for fun or Sweeps Coins you can exchange for gift cards and cash prizes.
How are Gambling Sites Regulated in Massachusetts?
When the Expanded Gambling Act passed into law in November 2011, it created the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to ensure fair and transparent processes and protections for both operators and customers.
The Commission regulates many Massachusetts gambling verticals, including sports betting, land-based casinos, and Daily Fantasy Sports. A separate Division of Racing regulates horse racing wagering, prescribing rules for sportsbooks and options such as parimutuel betting.
The Commission is also responsible for granting and issuing sportsbooks and casino licenses. All license applications must go through the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, including Category 1 (casinos), Category 2 (racetracks or simulcast centers), and Category 3 (online or mobile operators). Qualified entities can also request a temporary license to operate immediately, which will incur a $1 million fee.
Currently, the only active vertical that remains outside the Commission’s control is the lottery. The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission oversees and regulates lottery games and has five current members. Although tribal casinos exist outside the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s jurisdiction, no such entities exist in MA.
Responsible Gambling in Massachusetts
A key responsibility of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is safeguarding bettors, especially those who may be vulnerable. To this end, its licensing terms include several provisions, with operators required to offer personalized deposit limits and time-outs to customers.
Sites are also required to offer self-exclusion to their registered customers. Self-exclusion can be requested by contacting an operator’s customer support, while it enables players to take a break from all betting activity for between six months and five years.
Regardless of how you bet in Massachusetts, it’s important to gamble responsibly and always wager within your means. If you begin to bet excessively or spend more of your time wagering online, however, we recommend seeking practical support and advice from the following organizations.
Massachusetts Gambling FAQs
Is online gambling legal in MA?
While online and retail sports betting is legal in Massachusetts, online casino gambling remains prohibited. However, you can wager at three land-based casinos in the state. There’s also a state lottery in MA, while you can also engage in DFS betting and wager at sweepstakes casinos.
Can I bet on sports in Massachusetts?
Yes, you can! You can wager with any of the seven licensed sportsbooks in Massachusetts, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics. There are also three brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at the state’s three casinos (Plainridge Park, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston Harbor). These entities also enable you to wager on college sports outcomes.
Does Massachusetts have any online casinos?
No, the state has yet to legalize online casino gambling. So, there are no licensed online casinos in the state, and there are no formal plans for this to change in 2025. Legislation is in the pipeline, but this remains at the proposal and petition stage for now.
Is DFS legal in MA?
Yes, the state formally legalized Daily Fantasy Sports and DFS betting in July 2016. Bill 940 CMR: 34 temporarily legalized DFS for two years before being permanently approved and signed into law in the summer of 2018.
Are Massachusetts online gambling sites safe?
Each of the seven licensed sportsbooks in MA operates nationwide, including Bally Bet, ESPN Bet, and the Caesars Sportsbook. These entities offer a raft of safer gambling tools and boast numerous licensing credentials. The sites are all secured by 128-bit encryption, which safeguards your financial data and every deposit or withdrawal you request.
Do I have to pay taxes on gambling winnings in Massachusetts?
All gambling winnings in MA are categorized as gross income and taxable at a rate of 5% (plus surcharge). This must be paid in addition to the standard federal tax levy of 24%, which applies to all winnings that exceed $5,000.
