Friday was the final day for Betr to take wagers in Massachusetts, making it the second online sports betting operator to pull up its stakes in the Bay State in less than a week.
Neither Betr nor WynnBET’s departures came as a surprise. Both signaled their intentions to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission last month and received waivers from the regulatory body earlier this month to depart without giving the requisite 90-day notice.
Massachusetts betting apps began a year ago, and WynnBET and Betr received their Category 3 license on Feb. 23, 2023. The MGC awarded both operators a temporary license valid for only a year, and commission staffers were conducting suitability reviews to see if the two companies would be considered for a full five-year authorization.
The temporary permits cost the operators $1 million apiece. Had they received the full license, they would have paid $5 million for the right to take bets in the commonwealth for five years.
With Betr and WynnBET closing shop, Massachusetts now has six active sports betting operators. They are BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics Sportsbook Massachusetts and FanDuel. State law permits up to 15 companies to have licenses.
How To Withdraw Funds
According to information posted by both companies, individuals who held accounts with Betr or WynnBET can withdraw their funds.
WynnBET stopped taking bets Feb. 12, but it will pay out wagers that will settle before or on March 12. A customer service representative will reach out to Massachusetts sports betting account holders who have futures bets that are scheduled to settle after that date.
Customers can also review their betting history in Massachusetts up through March 12.
While Wynn is shutting down its Massachusetts online sports betting app, it will continue to operate a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett. In addition, WynnBET says it will remain active in Arizona, Michigan and New York. However, the company announced last week it would sell its New York license to PENN Entertainment, operator of ESPN BET, for $25 million. The company had also previously announced its intention of closing in Arizona last August.
Betr has taken steps to allow its customers to withdraw deposits that were previously tied to promotional bonus offers. Withdrawals can be made up through March 16. After that date, the company will cut a check to account holders who still have funds available in their accounts. Those checks will be sent to the address Betr has on file. Betr continues to operate sports betting sites in Ohio and Virginia, and it was approved for a license last week in Indiana.
