When and why was MA gambling legalized?
All sports and casino fans will be aware that online gambling is very tightly regulated in the US, with complex state-level restrictions in force and prohibitions in place in several regions.
In recent years, however, attitudes toward online gambling have begun to change – most notably since the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) back in 2018.
The reversal of this important piece of legislation – which effectively outlawed online gambling at a national level – has led to fresh calls for legalization on a state-by-state basis, with New Jersey and Pennsylvania among the first states to push through regulated online casinos and sports betting.
Online gambling in Massachusetts officially went live much later, on March 10, 2023, to be exact, with a handful of big-brand betting operators such as DraftKings and BetMGM the first to go live in MA, offering access to sports betting odds. Regulators have since confirmed that in-state bettors must be aged 21 or over to participate, and that MA-accessible online betting sites are required to use geolocation software to verify the location of bettors pre-wager.
What kinds of Mass gambling activities can bettors now enjoy online?
March 10, 2023 marked an important turning point for gamblers in MA, but the decision to legislate online gambling in the state is far from a free-for-all. Much like in other US regions, there are certain things that are and aren’t permitted in MA when it comes to online gambling even today. The most important thing to note for now is that while placing bets on sports online is legal, playing at online casino games for real money
is still deemed to be against the law.
When it comes to gambling-based activities in the state, here’s what residents can currently enjoy:
1 Mobile sports betting
As of March 10, 2023, sports fans based in The Bay State can now legally place cash wagers at online sportsbooks. Almost any professional sports leagues are available for betting, with the exception of some in-state collegiate team games.
2. Sweepstakes or “socal casino” gaming
While online casino gambling
for real money
is forbidden in MA, lovers of casino slots and table games
can
play at sweepstakes or “social casino” sites. These providers offer Vegas-inspired games playable in virtual currencies rather than USD. Some of the sportsbooks listed in our comparison may offer access to these kinds of games, whereby you can either accumulate coins for free, or purchase coin packages. Operators usually make gameplay available using different types of virtual coins – some of which have a real-world prize value, and some of which are freeplay-only.
3. Daily fantasy sports
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games have actually been considered a form of legal online gambling in MA since 2016, when a temporary bill was passed allowing for access to these sites. More recently, DFS have been made permanently legal, though players must always be aged 21+.
4. In-person casinos
MA laws currently allow for up to three brick-and-mortar casinos and one slots-only casino in the state, aimed squarely at those who like to play at Vegas-style games in person. Some of these premises offer in-person access to sports betting odds, too.
5. MA state lottery
Over the years, the MA state lottery has been subject to several strict bans. Currently, however, it’s accessible to over-18s in the state, though it’s not currently possible to purchase tickets online via the MA Lottery’s official website.
Which MA gambling websites and apps are best?
On this page, you’ll find a comparison of all the top online gambling sites currently active in MA state. Each of these has begun offering access to online sports betting odds since the big March 2023 decision – and some offer DFS and cashless sweepstakes casino games, too.
Every operator in our comparison has been carefully checked by our independent reviewers for its licensing and legitimacy, so you can rest assured that only 100% trustworthy sites that we consider to be the best in the business will be recommended here.
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How to compare the best sites for online gambling in Massachusetts
You can use our comparison to get a good feel of what each of the best sports betting sites live in MA has to offer at a glance. If you need more information, you can click through to read our full, detailed reviews of each individual operator, too.
Naturally, all online gambling fans have their own tastes, so which site is right for you is sure to wind up being a highly personal decision. That said, we’d always recommend keeping the following things in mind when narrowing down your search for the best betting site:
Look out for MA state licenses
Placing bets on sporting outcomes for real money in MA is only permitted via sites and apps that are licensed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. This is hugely important, as betting with unlicensed providers could see you get into a whole lot of trouble with the law. You can confirm whether an operator is licensed quickly and easily by scrolling to the bottom of their homepage to seek out the MGC seal of approval, or by performing a keyword search on their T&Cs or privacy policy page.
Pay special attention to sites that offer access to multiple game types
Legal Mass online gambling is currently limited to online sports betting, DFS and sweepstakes casino games, but it can be hard to find an operator that offers access to all three. We’d recommend always prioritizing the providers that offer you greater access to a broader variety of games, whether that be by advertising a more diverse and varied sportsbook than competitors, or by having a sweepstakes casino subsite or sister application you’d struggle to find elsewhere.
Compare customer support options
Most of the online betting sites recommended in our comparison offer great functionality, easy-to-manage betting slips and fluid smartphone apps, but occasionally issues can and do occur. If your
MA betting app
freezes mid-bet or you have trouble activating a promotion, it’s useful to have someone on-hand to help. For this reason, we’d suggest registering with sites that are well-ranked for their customer service. The best ones should, at the very least, offer 24/7 live chat or email support.
Don’t forget about MA gambling promotions
Some say that a sports betting site is only as good as its sign-up bonus – and we tend to agree. Online gambling is relatively new to The Bay State, so you should have no trouble finding a generous welcome promotion targeted at MA bettors when you come to compare the market. We’d highly recommend reviewing the T&Cs of each offer available to see which best suits your online betting style. Oh, and be aware that free bet offers tend to come with play-through requirements and time limitations attached.
See what payment options are accepted
Many of the sports betting operators that have recently gone live in The Bay State offer multiple banking options when it comes to deposits and withdrawals – some of which come with bigger perks than others. It’s advisable to compare which kinds of payment methods have the fastest processing times and the lowest fees, especially if you’re a frequent bettor who’s going to be pushing through a lot of regular transactions. E-wallets like PayPal and Skrill are often faster than credit cards, but this might not be the case with every online sportsbook.
How we rate Massachusetts gambling operators – the standardized criteria used by our reviews
New online betting sites are appearing in MA by the day and every online gambling site we encounter gets exactly the same treatment before we name-drop it in any of our comparisons or recommendations. We’ll always review and rate each provider in terms of:
First up, we dive right into the details of any sign-up promotions advertised, revealing how the operator’s bonus functions in practice.
Usability and functionality
Next, we reveal what you can expect in terms of user-friendliness from any apps, betting tools and sweeps casino games.
Available payment options
We then identify what banking methods are accepted, which are fastest and what kind of minimum and maximum limitations you can expect on deposits and withdrawals.
Customer support choices
From here, we review the customer service options available, and test out the various avenues on offer for their efficiency, friendliness and response times.
Access to MA gambling markets
Naturally, every review we write will also include a detailed breakdown of what sports markets and games are available to customers in Massachusetts, too.
Licensing and credentials
We reveal what online gambling licenses are held, whether the operator has won any awards, and what other gamers have to say about their services.
Post-welcome loyalty promotions
Finally, we look out for any VIP clubs or loyalty schemes and explain how you can take advantage of these to unlock more future promotions and perks.
Conclusion – MA gambling is here, but you should choose where to bet very carefully
So, residents of Massachusetts state can now legally access online gambling sites – but online gambling in Massachusetts isn’t without a handful of limitations. The main things to note are that sports betting is permitted so long as you steer clear of national high school events and some local collegiate fixtures, and that casino gaming is restricted to virtual currency-based sweepstakes sites only, but otherwise you can pretty much bet as you please.
Keep in mind that comparing the market is crucial if you want to enjoy the best possible online betting experiences. What’s more, it’s absolutely vital that you only ever place bets with operators that hold a Massachusetts Gaming Commission license, as this is the primary regulator for the state. If you can find a betting site that offers great promotions and access to tons of different sports and sweepstakes markets too, that’s a bonus.
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Online gambling Massachusetts FAQ
🤑 Can I gamble online in Massachusetts?
The Supreme Court’s overturning of PASPA in 2018 has had a ripple effect across the US, leading to the state-level legalization of online gambling in several different states. MA bettors have been eagerly awaiting legal online gambling services for some time now – so, what is the latest legal outlook? Find out today.
🎰 Are online casinos legal in MA?
Sports fans who reside in The Bay State can now legally place online sports bets on several kinds of sports events in MA, but what about people who prefer playing at casino games? Are Vegas-style tables and slots available in Massachusetts on an online or mobile basis? Find out with TheGruelingTruth.com.
Has online sports betting been legalized in MA?
Online sportsbooks are legal in some US states but not others, as independent regulation is required on a state-by-state basis. The legal history of online betting in Massachusetts is a complicated one, but where do sports bettors stand today? TheGruelingTruth.com reveals all.
🃏 Which online gambling sites in Massachusetts are best?
Finding the best online casinos and sports betting sites always takes a bit of shopping around. Fortunately, TheGruelingTruth.com has been out and reviewed all the best gambling sites currently available in MA – so you can read our expert ratings to get an idea of what to expect from each one.
🔒 Are MA betting sites safe?
Whenever you use the services of a sports betting site or online casino in your state, it’s important to ensure your provider is properly licensed at a state-level. You should also look out for SSL encryption and other important safety and security features. Find out more with TheGruelingTruth.com.
