Gaming Commission Will Not Alter Massachusetts Sports Betting Launch

• Despite a request from DraftKings, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will not change staggered sports betting launch plans
• DraftKings was the only operator to suggest universal launch date for all retail and online operators
• Massachusetts sports betting launch windows will not be changed at this time

A request from DraftKings for a universal Massachusetts sports betting launch date will not be moved forward by the state gaming commission.

Despite a formal request from DraftKings, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will not alter its plans at the moment to launch retail sports betting in late January/early February and its plans to launch online sports betting by early March.

Massachusetts Sports Betting Windows to Remain Unchanged

The sports betting operator submitted a formal request to the gaming commission to consider a universal start date for all operators, regardless of retail or online sports betting.

“This decision to launch mobile sports wagering after retail sports wagering would artificially limit consumer choice and consumer protections, stunt the state’s sports wagering market, and put mobile first operators, such as DraftKings, at a competitive disadvantage compared to others. DraftKings urges the Commission to set one universal launch date for all sports wagering in the Commonwealth that encompasses both in person and online wagering,” the operator wrote in its request to the commission.

While the commissioners did vote to approve its potential sports betting launch windows at meeting earlier in the month, they did agree that they could be modified if the commission received input that would make the start date too difficult, or if the staff received a larger than expected number of sports betting license applications.

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Cathy Judd-Stein said the majority of operators gave their approval for retail sports betting starting at an early date than online sports betting, so long as no online sports betting operator was allowed to start earlier than its peers. DraftKings, she said, was the only operator to object to the staggered launch approach.

The gaming commissioners agreed with Judd-Stein and didn’t feel it necessary to revisit the launch windows as per the request from DraftKings Sportsbook.

“We had a good conversation when we voted on this. I continue to look at reports throughout the nation and other places regarding a staggered launch, and I feel very comfortable that what we did was the right thing to do,” Commissioner Bradford Hill said.

Commissioners Nakisha Skinner, Eileen O’Brien, and Jordan Maynard agreed with Hill’s assessment.

Any potential changes or new votes at this point may also push back the online sports betting launch from its early March launch window, Maynard warned.

Untethered Online Sports Betting Licenses in High Demand

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.

Here are the 23 operators that will be considered for Massachusetts online sports betting licenses:

• Bally Bet
• bet365
• Betfred
• BetMGM
• Betr
• BetRivers
• Betway
• BuddyBet
• Caesars Sportsbook
• Clutchbet
• DraftKings
• Easywin
• Fanatics
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• Fanlogic
• MaximBet
• Mohegan Digital
• Novibet
• Penn Sports Interactive (Barstool Sportsbook)
• PointsBet
• Underdog Sports Wagering
• Unibet
• WynnBet

The seven untethered licenses will be in high demand for the 20 operators that do not have partnerships with casinos. Untethered operators will not have to enter into any type of revenue sharing program with another entity.

There are three casinos in the state and all three have partnerships with online operators already.

• Plainridge Park Casino (Barstool Sportsbook Massachusetts)
• MGM Springfield (BetMGM Massachusetts)
• Encore Boston Harbor (WynnBET Massachusetts)