Massachusetts is one of the most vocal states in all of the nation- just ask anyone from there about themselves. When it comes to online gambling, you would think that they would have a progressive stance or want to be one of the early leaders in the market, but this hasn’t been the case to date.
With the discussion around legalizing online gambling heating up across the United States, this site will be your resource for everything you need to know about betting online in Massachusetts. From news stories to tips and tricks to improve your skills, this page has it all.
Online Sports Betting
Without question, sports betting has been the hottest topic in gambling in the United States for the last couple of years. Since the repeal of the federal law banning sports betting outside of Nevada in May 2018, over 20 states have either introduced legislation or have started taking legal bets inside their states. On the east coast, this has been more prevalent, but for the time being, Massachusetts continues to sit on the sidelines.
Given that Draft Kings, one of the leaders in regulated sports betting in the U.S., is headquartered in Boston, the lobbying efforts have no doubt been ratcheted up in the state. For the time being, it appears the state is content to watch other states launch and learn from their successes and failures. With the amount of sports fans in Massachusetts, however, it seems likely that the pressure will soon be on the government to make a move.
Our Online Sports Betting section is designed to have you ready for legal sports betting either in your state or if you happen to be traveling somewhere where it is already legal! We cover all the major bet types, giving you the pros and cons of each option so you can feel ready to take advantage of a sportsbook when you walk in!
Daily Fantasy Sports
One sign that the Massachusetts state government is going to be looking closely at regulated sports betting is its stance on Daily Fantasy Sports. A couple of years ago, the state deemed that sites like Draft Kings were operating legally, which made it one of the first states to approve this activity across the state. Of course, having Draft Kings as a local success story didn’t hurt, and so today, players from across Massachusetts can register and play daily fantasy contests for real money without any anxiety. When sports betting is legal in the state, those DFS accounts will be given instant access to real money sportsbooks when they launch.
Online Casino Games
Massachusetts is one of the states that didn’t have land-based casinos until very recently, so it should come as no surprise that the state also doesn’t sanction any online casinos at this time. States like New Jersy have shown the value in adding online casinos to their gaming offering (taking in tens of millions of tax dollars every month), so we can only assume that Massachusetts will be looking into the concept now that it has a couple of land-based casinos.
If you aren’t much of a casino player or you are focused only on certain games, you will definitely benefit from our Online Casino section. We have a full team of casino veterans who will walk you through the rules and gameplay of all the tables and machines you will find in a casino, and how to understand the differences in rules between online and land-based casinos that can impact your bottom line.
Online Poker
Online poker is another popular pastime that residents of the state once had access to that they now no longer have. After the main offshore poker sites were closed by the Department of Justice in 2011, the landscape has been barren of digital tables. While there has been a glimmer of hope with the introduction of regulated online poker in a handful of states across the country, Massachusetts hasn’t jumped in yet.
With the new land-based casinos offering poker cash games and tournaments, now is still a good time for you to brush up on the rules of some of the games like Omaha that you perhaps haven’t tried before, or get some more tips on how to improve your Hold’em skills. Even though there are no real money online games to play, you can still take a shot at winning some great prizes at one of the social or subscription poker sites that are open to residents of Massachusetts – this section of our site reviews all the available options and gives you a sense of what differences there are between them all.
Online Lottery
At the time or putting this site together, online lottery sales are banned in Massachusetts. If you are looking to buy a ticket to one of the massive draw games like Powerball, you are restricted to purchasing them at a retail outlet. For the time being, all you can do is check your tickets online to see if you are a winner. It is entirely possible that shortly the Lottery will decide to add online sales, but the retailers are pushing hard against that concept.
Online Horse Racing Betting in Massachusetts
Ok! Here is something that Massachusetts residents can gamble real money on from their computers or mobile devices! Horse racing is very popular in Massachusetts and while the state doesn’t have as many tracks as some of the southern states (weather is, of course, an issue), there is enough action to have a Racing Commission. This Commission and the state government have allowed for online betting on horse races from the state and across the country via several apps that are licensed in other jurisdictions. We take a look at all the betting sites you can access and walk you through setting up an account as well as trying to made heads or tails from a racing form so you can enjoy betting on the ponies or the dogs.
Massachusetts Online Gambling FAQ
Why is it taking so long for the state to pass sports betting legislation?
Many states have jumped in with both feet when it comes to regulating sports betting. That decision can come with some repercussions if regulations are not set up properly from the beginning. Given it is recent stance on expanding gambling as a whole, the state is heading in the right direction, and with states like New Hampshire recently launching their sports betting platform successfully, there will be more pressure on the local government to do something about it.
I don’t want to wait – can I just bet with an offshore site?
The short answer to that is yes -these sites are still open for business and will continue to be unless there is a major change to federal laws. However, these offshore-based online sportsbooks operate with little to no accountability. There are many horror stories of players having their accounts shut down, without any recourse to retrieve their money. In the era of regulated sportsbooks in the U.S., offshore sites are increasing their marketing efforts, giving away huge bonuses for players who register and deposit. Our recommendation? Stay away from these sites – help your local politicians lobby to make gambling online legal in the state.
If I drive to New Hampshire, can I make sports bets there?
This doesn’t sound like the most appealing option, but it is still better than playing online, in our opinion. If you are willing to make it across the border, then you will be able to register for an account and make a deposit. Your access to the site will be restricted by geography, so make sure you get all your bets in before you drive back across to Massachusetts. This is a solution being used in many states such as New York, where Manhattan residents are crossing the river into New Jersey to make their bets where it is legal to do so.