Best Massachusetts sports betting apps 2023

Massachusetts sports betting is now live. Online sportsbooks in the state, including DraftKings and BetMGM, are offering bonuses to new users. You must be 21 or older to bet online in Massachusetts.

RANK
OPERATOR
BONUS
INFO
ACTION
1
UP TO $1,500
In Bonus Bets
Top Features
Get Up to $1,500 Paid in Bonus Bets 
21+ and present in MA. Gambling Problem?
GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support
Live chat at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234  
Use Bonus Code: PLAYLSR
BetMGM Sportsbook is Now Live in Massachusetts!
2
Bet $5
Get $200
In Bonus Bets
Top Features
Up to $200 in Bonus Bets
21+ and present in MA. Gambling Problem?
GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support
Live chat at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234
To Claim: Click Play Now
FanDuel Sportsbook is Now Live in Massachusetts!
3
$1,000 FIRST BET
On Caesars
Top Features
Up to $1,000 Back as a Bonus Bet if Your Bet Loses
21+ and present in MA. Gambling Problem? GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support 
Live chat at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234
Use Promo Code: LSR1000
Get Up to $1,000 at Caesars Sportsbook
4
Up to $250 Bonus
New Customers Only. T&Cs Apply
Top Features
DraftKings Promo: Bet $5 Get $200
PLUS Get a $50 Bonus Bet with First Deposit
PLUS a Daily No Sweat Same Game Parlay 
21+ and present in MA. Gambling Problem?
GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support 
Live chat at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 
To Claim: Click Play Now
Draftkings Sportsbook is Now Live in Massachusetts

If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, call 1-800-327-5050 or visit www.mahelpline.org/problemgambling to speak with a trained specialist for free, 24/7.

Daily Deals in Massachusetts

NFL RB LEIPZIG VS. MAN CITY
Openda First Goalscorer
+650
+750
15% Boost
BET NOW
MLB WEDNESDAY PARLAY
Rays, Twins, Brewers All Win
+450
BET NOW
NFL NEWCASTLE VS. PSG
Newcastle Wins 2-0
+1400
+1600
14% Boost
BET NOW
MLB WILD CARD GAME 2
Rays, Blue Jays, Brewers, Phillies All Win
+950
BET NOW
NFL ATLETICO MADRID VS. FEYENOORD
Griezmann First Goalscorer
+450
+500
11% Boost
BET NOW
MLB BLUE JAYS VS. TWINS, DIAMONDBACKS VS. BREWERS, MARLINS VS. PHILLIES
No Run in 1st Inning
+475
BET NOW
NFL DORTMUND VS. AC MILAN
Dortmund Wins 2-0
+1200
+1400
17% Boost
BET NOW
MLB BLUE JAYS VS. TWINS
Bichette, Springer, Guerrero Jr., Biggio Each Record Hit
+270
+325
20% Boost
BET NOW
NFL SCARY TERRY
McLaurin Over 69.5 Receiving Yards & TD
+375
BET NOW
MLB RANGERS VS. RAYS
Diaz, Caminero, Lowe, Aranda All Record Hit
+305
+400
31% Boost
BET NOW
NFL AIR FIELDS
Fields Over 149.5 Pass Yards & Over 1.5 Pass TDs
+225
BET NOW
MLB RANGERS VS. RAYS
Garcia & Lowe Each 2+ Total Bases
+320
+450
41% Boost
BET NOW
NFL BEARS VS. COMMANDERS
Howell Over 149.5 Pass Yards & Over 24.5 Rush Yards
+275
BET NOW
MLB RANGERS VS. RAYS
Arozarena & Paredes Each 2+ Total Bases
+345
+500
45% Boost
BET NOW
NFL AP MVP
Burrow Wins AP MVP
+8000
BET NOW
MLB RANGERS VS. RAYS
Diaz, Caminero, Lowe, Aranda Each Record Hit
+400
BET NOW
MLB RANGERS VS. RAYS
Seager & Semien Each Hit HR
+1900
+2200
16% Boost
BET NOW
MLB RANGERS VS. RAYS
Garcia & Lowe Each Over 1.5 Total Bases
+450
BET NOW
MLB BLUE JAYS VS. TWINS
Bichette, Springer, Guerrero Jr., Biggio Each Record Hit
+325
BET NOW

DISCLAIMER

Legal Sports Report does not promote or endorse any form of wagering or gambling to users under the age of 21. This site encourages responsible gambling and provides advice for anyone who believes they, or someone they know, may have a gambling addiction.

Is sports betting legal in Massachusetts?

Yes, both retail and online sports wagers are legal in Massachusetts. Retail sports betting in the state launched on Jan. 31, 2023, and mobile and online sports betting followed on March 10, with six online books available at launch.

A sports betting bill passed in the closing hours of the 2022 session, and Gov. Charlie Baker signed it on Aug. 10, 2022.

What’s happening in Massachusetts sports betting right now

Massachusetts sports betting snapshot

Is online sports betting legal in Massachusetts?Yes, online sports betting in Massachusetts is legal, launching on March 10, 2023.
What sportsbook apps are live in Massachusetts?DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Barstool, Caesars, WynnBET, Fanatics (beta version) and Betr.
What sports are legal to bet on in Massachusetts?Bettors can wager on almost any pro sports leagues but cannot bet on in-state college teams (unless the teams are in a tournament). No betting on any high school sports.
Who can bet on sports in Massachusetts?Anyone located in Massachusetts who is 21 or older. Sports betting sites use geolocation software to verify a person’s location before that person places a bet.

Comparing the top sports betting apps in Massachusetts

Massachusetts law permits 15 online sports betting licenses. Eight of those will be tied to a land-based partner, and the other seven are open to competitive bidding. 

Eight sportsbook apps are live in the state: DraftKings, FanDuel, WynnBET, Caesars, Betr, Barstool, Fanatics and BetMGM. In addition to those eight, Bally Bet plans to launch in 2023, and Betway plans to launch in Q1 of 2024. This means that bettors will have an array of choices when deciding where to place their wagers — each with their various strengths and weaknesses.

Here is a breakdown of the top legal sportsbook apps in Massachusetts and the best sports betting promotions from each:

1. BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook is from the same corporate family as the MGM Springfield hotel and casino, one of the first three locations in the state where people could bet on sports in person. But BetMGM’s app is also one of the top options for sports bettors, as you are unlikely to find a sportsbook that offers more flexibility when it comes to options and editing a wager after placing it.

2. FanDuel Sportsbook

One of the more popular sports betting apps in the country, FanDuel Sportsbook is user-friendly and easy for beginners. However, navigation through some menus could be better, mostly due to the wide array of available sports and bets. This is, therefore, not a bad thing so much as a potential hindrance for more experienced users. Same-game parlay options are also a staple of FanDuel, and as noted, the app boasts a solid menu of sports.

3. Caesars Sportsbook

Representing the entertainment and hospitality company of the same name, Caesars Sportsbook is also a leader in online sports betting in the US. The Caesars app is one of the top options for sports betting bonuses, but it isn’t quite as sleek or flashy as some of its competitors. It can be clunky to navigate or find a bet, but most users still get a lot out of the app due to its performance and above-average promotions.

4. DraftKings Sportsbook

This Boston-based company was a pioneer in daily fantasy long before DraftKings Sportsbook became one of the top sports betting platforms in the country. Today, the book offers a sleek app along with a long list of available bets and innovative features. DraftKings was the first sportsbook in the US to offer early cash-outs, and its pools allow bettors to compete in tournament-like events against friends. However, the promotions DraftKings makes available for existing customers could be better.

Best MA sportsbook promos and how to get started

To start with, choose an online sportsbook in Massachusetts, head to that book’s homepage or app and create an account. Once you’re done with that, you can make a deposit and start betting. Throughout the process, keep an eye out for any bonus codes and promotions for new customers.

It is also important to be aware of the terminology associated with sportsbook bonuses, promos and other features. This language can differ from book to book, but it usually falls into one of a few categories. Here is a brief primer on the types of promos you can expect at Massachusetts sports betting sites:

Latest Massachusetts sports betting news

Projected Massachusetts sports betting revenue

Legal Sports Report is projecting Massachusetts to be among the top states in sports betting handle and revenue after its first full year of operation.

On May 23, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission decided not to allow sports betting companies to deduct promotional credits from their taxable income. That decision will likely have a major impact on the handle, revenue and taxes that sports betting will generate in the state. Allowing sportsbooks to deduct promos would potentially have raised the total sports betting handle and revenue in the state, but it would have lowered the amount of taxable revenue the state could earn.

Now that we know how the state will handle promotional deductions, LSR has built a projection model of ranges for possible handle, revenue and taxes for the first full year of Massachusetts sports betting. 

Model with no promotional deductions allowed

Massachusetts sports betting law

When legislators agreed to a compromise on H5164, otherwise known as the “Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act,” it changed the game for sports betting in the state. The law includes the following key features:

Sports betting as an individual state decision was unavailable until May 2018. However, after hearing the oral arguments to the US Supreme Court in December 2017 against the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, lawmakers in many states began to introduce measures to legalize sports betting in anticipation of a favorable ruling from the court. Massachusetts Sen. Eileen Donoghue was one of those forward-looking lawmakers when she introduced the first sports betting bill in Massachusetts history in January 2018.

The bill never gained much traction. It did, however, touch off a slew of measures that would implement sports betting in Massachusetts. None were successful until the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act of 2022 finally made its way through the state Legislature. Lawmakers reached a compromise in the final moments of July 31, and the governor had 10 days to accept or reject the bill. Gov. Charlie Baker signed it one day before the 10-day deadline, and Massachusetts joined 30 other states with legal sports betting.

Legal betting options in Massachusetts

The 2022 Massachusetts sports betting law legalized the activity, and bettors can now place wagers in person and online.

There are some online sportsbooks that claim they can legally accept bets from throughout the United States. But US sports betting is licensed at the state level, which means there are no legal websites in the US that can take bets from every state.

Betting with these offshore, unregulated platforms could lead to issues when it comes to getting paid. Without a license to protect consumers, these books could choose to not pay out winning bets or close the sportsbook without returning customer funds.

US citizens would have no legal recourse to try to recover the funds.

Casino gambling in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to two full-scale casino resorts and a third slots-only racino. The locations, respectively, are as follows:

There is the possibility that another location could join these three venues at some point in the future. The 2011 Expanded Gaming Act also allowed for a third casino resort to be built in the eastern third of the state. Various entities, including one of Massachusetts’ federally recognized tribal groups, have attempted to bring this venue to life in the years since, but nothing solid is in place yet.

Online horse betting in Massachusetts

Horse racing and horse betting are both legal in Massachusetts. The state allows citizens to bet on horses through online sites such as TVG.

Plainridge Park Casino is the only location in the state to offer any kind of live racing and the pari-mutuel wagering that accompanies it. The facility in Plainville offers harness racing between April and November. However, it offers slot play and simulcast wagering on a year-round basis. Two other locations, which are former tracks themselves, offer simulcasting, as well. Both Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs are open seven days a week for off-track betting on races across the country.

Massachusetts and daily fantasy sports

Massachusetts has a credible claim as the capital of daily fantasy sports in the US. As we mentioned earlier, DFS pioneer and industry giant DraftKings launched in Boston, and the company houses 650 of its key personnel in adjoining buildings on Boylston and Berkeley streets in Back Bay. Legal DFS play in Massachusetts goes back to 2016.

Popular sports to bet on in Massachusetts

Massachusetts and its residents have access to an array of sports and local franchises. The state has a team in all four major US sports leagues, and residents support all of them passionately.

The NFL’s New England Patriots have been favorites of bettors for years, but the team has undergone some changes since Tom Brady left, first for Tampa, then for retirement. 

But Massachusetts is far from a one-sport state. Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox kept their loyal fans waiting 86 years in between World Series until the team finally shook off the Curse of the Bambino in 2004. Since then, the Red Sox have frequently been in the running for the playoffs, which should keep them popular at sportsbooks.

The NBA’s Celtics and NHL’s Bruins have also had their share of success over the last two decades. The Celtics won an NBA title in 2008, while the Bruins took home the Stanley Cup in 2011. The 2022-23 Bruins set records for most wins (65) and points (135) in a season but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Florida Panthers.

Massachusetts also has eight Division I colleges in the state, with two — the Boston College Eagles and the UMass Minutemen — playing at the FBS level. However, Massachusetts bettors cannot legally wager on in-state schools unless those teams are in a tournament such as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Massachusetts sports betting history

2023: Legal sports betting officially launches in Massachusetts, with the first in-person bets taking place at the three casinos in the state on Jan. 31.

On March 10, online sports betting goes live in Massachusetts with the launch of six online books. Micro-betting platform Betr becomes the seventh sportsbook in the state a couple of months later.

Fanatics Sportsbooks then becomes the eighth book to launch, releasing a beta version of its app in late May.

2022: In the final moments of the legislative session, Massachusetts lawmakers reach a compromise on H5164. The bill legalizes sports betting in the state both online and in person. On Aug. 1, the bill passes the Senate by a 36-4 vote. Outgoing Gov. Charlie Baker signs the bill into law on Aug. 10, something he had long promised to do should a sports betting bill ever pass. In December, the MGC announces its intention to launch retail sports betting on Jan. 31, 2023, with online sports betting to follow soon after.

2021: Efforts to pass sports betting ramp up in the first half of the year. At one point, there were 23 sports betting bills on file between the House and Senate. The House finally distills its efforts into H3977. The proposal passes the lower chamber by a vote of 156-3-1. An amendment process and passage in the Senate is the roadblock for sports betting in Massachusetts since Gov. Charlie Baker publicly voiced his support for the activity.

An unexpected budget surplus disrupts the forward momentum of both H3977 and a similar Senate-produced bill. Senate President Karen Spilka declares sports betting to be on the back burner and names five issues of higher priority for the upper chamber. Sports betting dies in the Senate Ways and Means Committee and sends supporters back to the drawing board for 2022.

2020: The House attempts to work sports betting into an economic development bill with less than two weeks left in the formal session. The House overwhelmingly supports the bill with its sports betting language, but the Senate disagrees. Its amended version of the House bill includes no sports betting language at all despite multiple attempts.

Sen. Michael Brady, who submitted sports betting language for the Senate amendment, tells LSR that sports betting will be up for discussion before the end of 2020. However, resistance in the Senate proves to be too much to overcome, and the session passes without a sports betting bill moving through.

2019: Lawmakers submit multiple sports betting bills in 2019, though none receive significant attention.

Massachusetts sports betting FAQ

Who can bet on sports in Massachusetts?

Anyone over the age of 21 and inside Massachusetts is able to wager on sports. While some activities — lottery and pari-mutuel wagering — require bettors to only be 18 or older, most gambling options in the state mandate that you be 21 or older.

Who oversees sports betting in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission oversees all gambling in the state, including sports betting.

What can I bet on in MA?

According to the 2022 law, almost any sport with the exception of in-state NCAA colleges. Boston College, therefore, is off-limits for bets unless it is playing in a tournament. Esports betting, on the other hand, is up to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to decide whether to permit it in the state. The state does not allow betting on the LIV Golf tour or players.

Where can I bet on sports in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts residents are able to bet online and in person. Online sports betting apps are live in the state and available to bettors. There are also casinos in the state that have sportsbooks where you can bet in person.

Can I bet on sports on my phone in Massachusetts?

Yes. Bettors can sign up and bet on several sports betting apps in Massachusetts. There are offshore sportsbooks that claim they can accept bets from anywhere in the United States. However, since sports betting is licensed at the state level, only books that have a license to operate in Massachusetts are legal options for betting.