Massachusetts Residents Can Now Bet On These Weird Sports
Today is a historic day. For the first time, residents of Massachusetts can place online sports bets.
It's been a long time coming, and there have been a number of negotiating points, including a provision that does not allow bets on in-state collegiate teams (to protect local athletes from being illegally influenced).
Beginning March 10, if you are a Massachusetts resident, you'll be able to bet on any NHL or NBA game starting immediately. Celtics and Bruins don't play until Saturday, but you can pick any other professional game happening tonight.
When the Red Sox open their season at the end of the month and the Patriots kick off in the fall, we'll all be able to bet on those games, too.
Online gambling doesn't stop there. You can bet on a virtually endless number of sports, including some that many people have never heard of in their lives.
According to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, some of the approved sporting events that will be open for betting will include Australian rules football, badminton, biathlon, billiards, bowling, boxing, cricket, cycling, darts, disc, floorball, futsal, golf, handball, field hockey, lacrosse, mixed martial arts, racing, netball, pesapallo, rowing, rugby league, rugby union, sailing, snooker, soccer, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and water polo.
If you are wondering what the heck some of these sports are, you are not alone. Moreover, I'm not sure who these people are who know enough about the sports of table tennis, badminton, or water polo to feel comfortable to throw down a few hundred dollars on a game, but hey, who am I to judge?
Here are some of the weirder sports Massachusetts can now bet on, and what they are all about.