Massachusetts Sportsbooks Saw This Much in July Bets

Whoever thought that sports betting would do well in Massachusetts knew what they were talking about.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission says bettors in Massachusetts gambled $411.8 million on sporting events in July, with 98 percent of those bets placed online rather than in-person at the sportsbooks at the Commonwealth's casinos.

State House News Service reported the total compares to the $285.7 million wagered in July 2023.

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Sports betting is allowed at the state's three casinos: Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino. There are also seven online sports books operating in Massachusetts, including DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, ESPN Bet and Bally Bet Sportsbook.

You must be at least 21 years old to legally wager on sports in Massachusetts. Anyone under 21 cannot place wagers at an online sportsbook or retail sportsbook in the state.

Forbes.com says, "Given Boston's reputation as one of the top sports cities in the country, it was only a matter of time before Massachusetts legalized sports betting."

The Massachusetts State Legislature approved sports betting in August 2022, "with retail sports betting going live on January 31, 2023, and mobile sports betting launching on March 10, 2023."

Legal gaming began in Massachusetts in 2015.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission says all gaming activities generated more than $140 million in revenues for casinos and sportsbooks in Massachusetts in July. Of that sum, $36.5 million was paid to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as taxes or fees.

The American Gaming Association says land-based gaming markets are seeing "mixed year-over-year comparisons due to slower consumer spending economy-wide, which may continue to be a factor through the remainder of 2024."