The focus shifted Tuesday from approving Massachusetts sportsbooks to dealing with which types of wagers to allow for the Massachusetts Gaming Commissions.
A week from now, retail sports wagering will begin in the state.
The MGC unanimously voted 5-0 on approved bets, events and markets.
Approved Wager Types at sportsbooks like FanDuel Massachusetts will include: Single, Parlay, Teasers/Pleasers, Round Robin, Cash Out, Pools and Exchange Wagers.
Approved Market Types will include: Moneyline, 3-Way, Spread/Handicap, Totals, Player/Game/Team Props, Futures/Outrights, In-game/in-play, Virtual Match Ups, Next Occurrence, Win/Place/Each Way, Yes/No and Awards (statistically decided only - non-voting awards).
However, here are the items you can't bet on in the Commonwealth: chess, cornhole, eSports, jai alai, Winter/Summer Olympics (judged) and Russian/Belarus events (due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine). These will not be included in the initial rollout for MA retail betting when launched but will be reevaluated for mobile sports betting in the next month or so.
MA sports betting apps are expected to begin in early March, before the start of the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament. No date or time has been determined for launch.
More Specifics on Wagering
Professional league awards and draft wagers will be allowed.
Wagers on such subjective awards (such as professional league MVP, Rookie of the Year, etc.) will be allowed, along with award shows, such as the Academy and Emmy Awards.
Ironically, the Oscar nominations were announced earlier this morning. The 95th Academy Awards will be held on March 12 at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Will DraftKings Massachusetts and other top operators be allowed to launch their mobile apps by then?
Opening Day Update
Here is an update on opening day festivities at the three casinos that will launch retail sports betting next Tuesday:
Plainridge Park Casino (Barstool Massachusetts Sportsbook) will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m., with two-time Super Bowl winner and New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich making the sportsbook's first wager. Ninkovich spent eight seasons with the Patriots and announced his retirement after the 2016 season.
Encore Boston Harbor (WynnBET) and MGM Springfield (BetMGM Massachusetts) have not released their activities as of Tuesday afternoon.
Self-service sports betting kiosks at all three locations have been tested, approved and are ready to operate. Encore Boston Harbor has 118 kiosks, Plainridge Park has 20 and MGM Springfield has 18.
And that's not all - there will also be 31 sports betting kiosks located at the Caesars Sportsbook at Raynham Park when it opens.
Also, each location’s Certificate of Operations will be completed by Friday, Jan. 27 or Monday, Jan. 30, the day before the launch.
BetMassachusetts.com has been your best source leading up to Tuesday’s historic launch. Be sure to stay with us for more news and for Massachusetts betting promos.
